There are several favorite parks where I do most of my walking. Once there, I settle in and my feet find the familiar route and I take off. I consistently learn lessons on the road because God meets me where I am.
I love the comfortable and familiar. But imagine with me, as two disciples also walk a familiar road. One they might have traversed hundreds of times. On this one particular day, the road looked the same, but at second glance, nothing would ever be the same again.
The Gospel of Luke tells the story of the Road to Emmaus. It is the same day the women went to the tomb where Jesus lay only to find it empty. It is the third day after the horrific crucifixion of Jesus. Darkness enveloped the earth but light was slowly returning. (See Luke 24 for more)
Two disciples walked along a familiar road conversing about the events that had just taken place. A man joined them matching his footsteps with theirs. In the slow awakening on the road, the ordinary transformed into extraordinary. The two disciples invited the stranger to dinner as a sign of hospitality as the day was ending.
What Luke provides in this passage is the desire and need to search for more. The disciples speak with the stranger on the road and share all the events that had just transpired. But in the sharing, the two men(disciples) hint at the idea that the story isn’t finished. The death and resurrection of Jesus did not complete the story according to what they believed the prophets had foretold. Where was the king who would reign and save them? Why did the king (Jesus) die if He was the one the prophets promised would save them?
My son, Daniel, preached this weekend about the Road to Emmaus and God bringing His kingdom here to Earth. What struck me about his words was this:
The disciples walking along the road were hungry for more. We all hunger for more and this leads us to uncovering what it is we want. One of the first things Jesus asks those He meets is , “What do you want”? Jesus addresses our hunger by inviting us to the table. Some of the most important events in the time of Jesus revolved around a meal.
The turning point in this story is the moment the disciples are sitting with the Risen Jesus eating a meal. Jesus breaks the bread, shares it and eats. Yes, Jesus eats and in this moment the disciples see the man for who He really is–Jesus!
Just as the disciples questioned and struggled believing that the death and resurrection of Jesus fulfilled the arrival of the Kingdom of God here on Earth, we also question the simplest things in order to find the one, true answer. We hunger for more forgetting that God will never leave us unsatisfied. We question all the things not believing that in God we will find all the answers we need.
As I read the passage about the Road to Emmaus again, I found some beautiful lessons on the road.
- Jesus always stands in the gap for us even when we don’t recognize Him or are aware that He’s by our side.
- It always help to walk the road with a friend. The need for connection and relationship is what keeps us going.
- Our eyes are opened when our hearts are ready to receive what God promises.
- With Jesus comes God’s saving reign. The kingdom is here and is now. We are just in the transition between what was and what will be when Jesus comes again.
- Our deepest desires are met because the kingdom is here.
Never was the phrase “God’s perfect timing” more fitting. God knew the disciples would be walking the road to Emmaus and the importance their conversation was to future believers. Jesus honored his Father by walking out the journey to the cross. We have the choice to continue the walk to and with Jesus on a daily basis.
What lessons have you learned on the road? How do you see God’s perfect timing revealing itself in your own life? Does God surprise you when you least expect it?
Blessings,
Thank for your grace and your sweet encouragement each week. This past week was unusually busy as I spent time with my son, DIL, and Baby Jack at their house two hours away and then they spent the rest of the week at my house. I did not get to all of your precious comments last week, but I read everyone.
Your lessons from the road are beautiful, Mary. How grateful I am that Jesus always stands in the gap for us. That’s such a comfort when I don’t know how I’m feeling, much less how to express it in prayer. I love how the two disciples expressed that their hearts burned within them when they were with Jesus and didn’t know it. Can you even imagine what that must have been like?
“We all hunger for more and this leads us to uncovering what it is we want.” I like that. If we are not hungry, we will not look for more, but hunger urges us on to find just the thing we need at any given time in our lives. And the Lord is so faithful to supply that need. He gave the two disciples on the road to Emmaus just what they needed, and they turned around and went back prepared for the next step in their lives. God bless, Mary, and thanks for sharing these beautiful thoughts.
I love how God gives us a hunger for more of Him. This is how we find out what we want and grow closer to Him. The story of the road to Emmaus teaches us how God continues to reveal Himself to us and the importance of keeping our eyes focused on Him. I pray we always find God in our travels along the road because He is always there.
Amen!
Mary, I love this post, the scripture regarding the two disciples on the road to Emmaus is one of my favorites because Jesus reveals Himself throughout the Old Testament. Your quote, “I consistently learn lessons on the road because God meets me where I am” really resonates with me. God truly does meet me right where I am on a day-by-day, moment-by-moment basis. I once heard Andy Stanley ask a question which I have never forgotten, “What would a girl, just like you do, in a situation just like the one you are in, if she was absolutely certain that God was with her?” I always experience such comfort and peace when I ask myself that question, because I am absolutely certain He is here with me, right now, no matter what. Many blessings to you, friend.
That is such a perfect question. The question leads us to knowing God is with us and that’s what makes it so good. Thank you for leaving this encouragement. You have a way of reassuring me in my own journey to God.
I find it interesting & confronting when God asks us what we want from Him or what do we want Him to do.
Very thought provoking Mary 😀
Bless you,
Jennifer
I’m interested in knowing why you feel it is confronting for God to ask what we want Him to do. It certainly causes me to pause since there are not many people who even ask this question. Thank you for being here.
God will never leave us unsatisfied. I needed that small truth today. laurensparks.net
It is a beautiful truth, isn’t it? I’m glad it blessed you today.
I love that thought you ended with, that “God’s timing was perfect” to meet them just when they needed Him so much. Hiking was one of my favorite activities before my diagnosis, and I miss those times of connecting with God in nature. But I was so struck tonight that HE is still walking with me here, and His timing is never wrong. He’s meeting all of my questions with His answers in this place too. Thank you for sharing your precious words today, Mary!
I could see you as someone who loves the outside and hiking. I can’t imagine how hard it is not to be able to meet God in that way. You are right that God is still walking with you. He never leaves your side and loves everything about you. Thank you for sharing how God is meeting you right where you are. Blessings!
Mary,
This is beautiful!! You had me right there walking the road in your writing. I guess one of the biggest things I am learning is that it isn’t about the destination. It isn’t about seeing how a situation is going to turn out…it’s more about the journey with Christ. It’s the walking, and talking, and yes joining Him at the table. It’s more about being in relationship with Him. Thanks for a reminder that I needed!
Blessings sweet friend,
Bev xx
I am all about the journey. It seems to be a theme in my life right now. I am also all about relationships. I think that’s why this passage on the road to Emmaus speaks so much to me. Thank you for your thoughts and for always leaving such encouragement.
You did find quite a few beautiful lessons from the road, Mary! This is the one that especially hit home with me this afternoon: “Our eyes are opened when our hearts are ready to receive what God promises.” I want to be ready.
Thank you, Lisa! I find that my eyes are not always opened to all God has for me. But when they are my life is filled with abundance. Blessed to have you here!
I always love the story of the road to Emmaus. It reminds me that sometimes when we are caught up in sorrow or confusion, Jesus comes and walks right alongside us, even if we don’t always recognise him at first!
I am most taken with the fact that not only is God always with us, but many times we have no idea He is there. It is comforting to me that He never leaves our sides.
Hi Mary! Such a great reminder about the lessons we have everyday as we walk our road. I love that as they went about their ordinary routine, it became an extraordinary moment. I am also encouraged that at first they didn’t perceive who was walking with them, but they did later receive the fullness of that revelation! such a good reminder and post. thank you 🙂
Thank you, Debbie! There is so much happening on the road to Emmaus. I love how timing is everything. That is so God!! Love that you stopped by!
I love the story of the Emmaus travelers, Mary. There’s such a depth of meaning in it, isn’t there? This lesson especially encourages me – “Jesus always stands in the gap for us even when we don’t recognize Him or are aware that He’s by our side.” Love and blessings to you!
There is so much we can glean from this story. I have a feeling I will dive deeper at some point. I am blessed to know you found some words that resonated, Trudy. It is so powerful to know Jesus is standing in the gap for us. Sending many hugs! I have missed you!
I learn most of my best lessons on the road too, Mary. I love the phrase you used in the first paragraph “God meets me where I am”. While I have never had a revelation as earth-shattering as the disciples, I have learned a lot from listening to what God has to say while on the road.
I get my best writing ideas or solutions to challenges while walking. It is so sweet how He shows up to walk with me every time. Thank you for being here, Laurie!
I’ll be linking up later today. You know my take on the two on the Emmaus Road!!!
Glad to have you here as always, Susan! I was so intrigued by your take on the two disciples walking to Emmaus. 🙂
This is one of my favorite New Testament passages. Thanks for sharing so many good applications from it,
Mine too! I pray we can hold onto the truths that God revealed in His word as we walk daily with Him.
Isn’t that worth shouting today – ok, praising Him for – that Jesus never leaves us unsatisfied. So much that demands (and receives) our focus and our effort does exactly that….leaves us unsatisfied. Simply tired and most often with an even deeper sense of longing. Oh, but not the savior! I want my eyes focused and my heart open in order to receive from Him….as I walk the road with Him today. Have a beautiful day, Mary!
I like your first idea! Shouting that our God is everything. We bring on feeling unsatisfied all on our own. I pray we are able to keep our eyes on God as we walk the path of our life knowing that in Him we have everything we need.
That story on the Emmaus Road never fails to capture me with its magic. I love the conversation that happens in my own life on “road trips,” and also around the table.
And the way God opened their eyes to the reality of Jesus’s presence right there with them . . .
And I know it flies in the face of all the curriculum company’s renderings of the story, but I like to think that the two travelers were Cleopas and Mrs. Cleopas, husband and wife traveling together and discovering the risen Christ at their humble dinner table. Certainly, nothing would ever again be the same for them.
There isn’t anything better than enjoying friends and family around the table or on a road trip. They are some of my favorite times. The story of the road to Emmaus is one I imagine I will come back to and explore more thoroughly, but I loved hearing my son, Daniel preach on it this past Sunday.
And, I love the idea that it was Mr.and Mrs.Cleopas walking on that road discussing the events that had just transpired. I saw Susan’s post where she references this and I loved it. That would be fun to dig into more deeply. Thanks for being here, Michele!
Mary, this is such a beautiful and tender post. I have always loved the way Luke tells this story. As Jesus broke the bread and blessed it, the familiar gestures and His tone, opened their eyes to Him. Such a beautiful reminder this morning … as we come to His table and become familiar with His Words, He will reveal Himself to us more and more. Blessings to you and Daniel today!
Since I am fascinated with journeys, walking, and all that means literally and figuratively, the story of the road to Emmaus fits into all of those categories. I was even more smitten when my son preached on this story. He brings a different perspective and one that allows me to go deeper. So when he pointed out the importance of gathering for a meal and how Jesus reveals himself when we least expect, I knew that I needed to write this post. Thank you for being here and join in the conversation.
Such a beautiful post, Mary. There are many lessons to be learned on the road, aren’t there? One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned on the. road is one you’ve touched on. Jesus is always with us. When the road gets steep, or is full of potholes, He’s there, holding our elbows to help us along. He’s listening as we work through the struggles. I’m so thankful that He never leaves or forsakes us.
I know you do a lot of walking, Jeanne and I’m sure that you have had many conversations with God along the way. I know God always meets me on the road. I agree that I will never get tired of learning and remembering how God is always with me. It is the one lesson that I easily forget but God graciously reminds me of His presence.
Ah, a whole week with your precious ones, Mary.
It just doesn’t get much better than that! God is so very good …
A whole week of snuggles and sweet family time. And you’re right–it doesn’t get any better. Thank you God for your goodness!
I love these powerful reminders as we walk on the road like Luke did. We walk full of hope (sometimes hope we are afraid to admit — even to ourselves.) Yet we keep pressing in to Jesus, hopeful for all that’s to come.
Two things stood out to me:
1. Some of the most important events with Jesus revolved around a meal.
2. How powerful the need to walk with a friend.
Thank you for walking with each of us in this space! Now we just need meals together 😉
I wonder how we could work out sharing a meal together?? I love walking with this community. You all are my favorites! I appreciate the blessing you are and how you add so much to this community. Blessings on your week, Becky!!
**This comment was lost in spam, but I retrieved it. I will delete your other comment! 🙂
Good morning Mary,
How wonder-full your lessons on the road. I couldn’t help but selfishly ask the Lord to make a time when you and I can walk together. Have a blessed Tuesday. In Christ, Julie
I was thinking the same thing. What a treat it would be to soak in God time with a friend. Thank you for being here. Enjoy your week!