It was a very depressing and discouraging weekend for one couple. Not only were they sad and grieving over the death of a dear friend of theirs, it seemed as if all of their hopes and dreams had been dashed, as well. This was the case for a couple of people that Sunday following the crucifixion. Their world looked black, or at the barest minimum, a dark shade of gray. Let’s take a look at the account of these two that Luke gives in his Gospel.
In addition to the apostles, there were many other disciples and followers of Jesus that had been in Jerusalem over the Passover holiday, and had been there when He was arrested and crucified. Then Sunday morning, some of the women brought the news that when they had gone to the tomb, angels told them that Jesus had risen from the dead. That news spread, not only to the remaining eleven apostles, but to many of the other disciples, as well. Most of them didn’t really know what to make of the news that the angels gave, that Jesus had risen. That Sunday evening the disciple Cleopas and his companion were heading home, which was in the small village of Emmaus, about seven miles northwest of Jerusalem.
As mentioned, these two were depressed and discouraged. They had been followers of Jesus. Like many, they had been filled with encouragement and hope by His message over the past few years. Like many, these two had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. However, their belief of the Messiah was that He would set up an earthly kingdom, defeat the Roman Empire, and restore Israel’s sovereignty (vs. 21).
Then everything was turned upside down that past Friday when Jesus was arrested and the religious leaders turned Him over to be executed. Where was God in all of this? It felt like God had abandoned them, like He had just disappeared. Jesus was gone, along with all of their hopes, dreams, and plans.
While walking to their home, the two came upon another traveler, a man that they didn’t recognize. Since He seemed to be heading in their direction, they invited Him to join them while walking. When questioned by this stranger as to why they were so sad, and what they were talking about, Cleopas started to tell Him about all that had happened that weekend, and how all of their hopes in Jesus were now shattered. In their sorrow and grief, focusing their minds only on their problems, they could not see that this stranger was Jesus, right in their midst.
Just like these two disciples, we can become discouraged when we lose sight of Jesus. There are times, like with these two, when our world looks black or dark gray. We seem to be wandering in the dark, forsaken by God. We need the light of Jesus to redirect our lives. The light Jesus gives is in His Word, the Bible. Whenever we are troubled and wandering through the darkness of this life, we can look to Jesus, and the Words He speaks. While He walked with these two on their way home, Jesus spoke the Words of the Old Testament Scriptures to them, and it was afterwards that their hearts, minds, and eyes were opened to Him (vs. 25-27).
When these two had heard the news that the women had brought that Sunday morning, that Jesus was no longer in the tomb, and the angels had said He had risen, they should not have continued their plans to leave town. They should have remained with the others in fellowship. Despite their feelings of discouragement, God had not abandoned them, nor will He ever abandon us at our lowest point. On the evening of the resurrection, Jesus sought out these two discouraged disciples. When we feel abandoned by God, He is still present with us. He seeks us out, like He did with them. We may not recognize His presence, but He is with us nonetheless.
Just as Cleopas and his companion found out, when we least expect it, Jesus can show up. No matter how discouraged we may get in our troubles, we are never abandoned by God. Jesus walks with us.
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