Third Sunday of Easter ~ April 6, 2008

He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Today we come to a familiar story of post-resurrections events. Luke records for us an interesting story of two disciples traveling home and seeing Jesus. I enjoy this story because Luke lets us in, the reader, to more than what the disciples know at the time. He allows us to see that Jesus joins these disciples on the road, but they don’t know it. As the story progresses we see Jesus instructing the disciples and then finally being recognized by them as He breaks bread in their midst.

I like to think of this moment as an “A-ha” moment. It was a moment when all things become clear, and the information known before now takes on new meaning. We all have had “a-ha” moments – times in which suddenly things become clear and take on new meaning. Maybe it was understanding math for the first time in school. Maybe it was getting a joke that made no sense before. Maybe it is understanding a piece of Scripture better than you have before. For me one “a-ha” moment was seeing the connection of the Passover with the Lord’s Supper. Many years ago I attended a Jews for Jesus event and in the details of their explanation of the Passover and how it connected to the Lord’s Supper this piece of Scripture, old and new, took on greater meaning for me.

“A-ha” moments are great in that they bring clarity to things we may have not known before, or at least didn’t understand full. Two observations I have with “a-ha” moments: 1) It usually takes another person to help us see things in a new light and 2) It is usually based on information we already knew, but now have been able to put the “pieces” together better. I think this is important as we meditate on Luke’s text.

Who has entered this story with these disciples who know what happened, but not really what truly has happened? Jesus! He is walking with the disciples and teaching them, putting a new light on what they already know. What they already know – they have been taught the Scriptures from young on; they have spent time with Jesus and heard His teaching. They know, but it doesn’t become clear until Jesus teaches them.

What a neat story. But let’s take a step back here. Why is Luke recording this for us? Well first we need to know why Luke wrote his Gospel and also the book of Acts. We don’t know with certainty that this was the goal of Luke but we do know that he had in mind an audience that needed to hear the stories of Jesus. But not just the stories, they needed to know what this meant for their lives; how are their lives different now that they have heard about Jesus? So we have guessed that Luke is writing for an audience that may be new to the faith and need direction on how to live the Christian life. With that in mind, now lets take another looks at our text, our story of two disciples encountering Jesus, and see what that says to us about the Christian life.

First – I believe this story points to our need for God’s revelation found in His Word. I think this is why Luke lets us in on the fact that it is Jesus walking with the disciples before they know it. It is a reminder that God is walking with us, even when we don’t see Him, revealing Himself to us as we listen. The disciples had the information of God, but needed His revelation, His understanding, to really get it. When we are on this journey of life (another theme for the text) we often see only the misery, heartache, confusion and rebellion of the world and ourselves to God. But with God’s revelation we can see more, we can see His victory. The Small Catechism tells us that the work of the Holy Spirit is to “enlighten our hearts and mind” which is another way of saying – brings us understanding.

Second – not only is God with us, even when we don’t see Him, but He has left us His Word to know what He wants us to know. The Bible, Old and New Testament, are for us to “listen” to God and hear His voice in our lives. Luke records for us that Jesus recounts the story of salvation, the pieces of Scripture that point to Christ’s death and resurrection, beginning with Moses and going through the Prophets – in essences the whole Old Testament. Wow, I would have loved to been in that class! An overview of Scripture in just a couple of hours! But we have to realize that the disciples were already familiar with the Old Testament, it was a life long process of learning. And the same is true for us. We need to be in God’s Word, every day, to let Him talk to us, enlighten us.

Third – As another way of reminding us that we need to turn to God for His revelation to us, Luke gives us another powerful clue of God’s means of conveying His love and grace to us – the Lord’s Supper. The disciples are still clueless to who this man is. They invite Jesus to stay with them and enjoy dinner together. At this meal Luke records for us that when Jesus broke the bread (which is a symbol of Christian fellowship and the Lord’s Supper in Luke and Acts) the disciples then could see it was their risen Lord and Savior. God revealed Himself to these disciples in a powerful way, through the Lord’s Supper, which we still join in today. When we come to this table and receive the bread and wine Jesus has promised to be truly present with us and making Himself known to us. We call it a sacrament because it is God doing the work. He is the one opening our minds and hearts to His love and mercy. What a wonderful gift He has given us!

Fourth – yes there is a fourth idea here for the Christian life. Not only are we told that Jesus is with us even if we don’t see Him, and we can find Him in the pages of Scripture and in the Sacraments, but He is also sending us out. Once the disciples learned that this was Jesus they hurried back to tell the others what they had witnessed. That same model is true in the Church today. As God “enlightens our hearts and mind” in Christ Jesus, as we have those “a-ha” moments when we see Jesus clearly, we are then called to share. Share the message of Jesus Christ and His victory over sin, death and the power of the devil. We are called to go into the world and teach about Jesus, and in so doing God’s Word will work its “magic” again and again and again.

Jesus walks with us, even if hidden, enlightens our hearts and minds and sends us to proclaim His victory. Amen.