Conversations on the Road

They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32

It was the first day of the week, just three days after the darkest day in history. Heads were spinning in confusion. Hearts hurt with grief. Souls were lost in the streets. A few women woke up early to tend to Jesus’ buried body but were surprised to find an empty grave and some angels who told them “He is risen from the dead!” There were a couple of Jesus’ followers on a long walk, going from Jerusalem to Emmaus. While they walked, they talked. They discussed what took place just a few days before.

The conversation must have been heavy. It was likely a conversation full of questions and long uncomfortable silences. Then, Jesus appeared with them and started walking alongside, asking the question “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” The two disciples stopped with sadness on their faces. Then Cleopas pointed out that this man asking them this question must be the only man in Jerusalem who hadn’t heard about all the things that happened in Jerusalem those few days. So Jesus asked another question; “What things?” The resurrected Jesus wanted to hear it from their mouths. Of course he knew what things they were discussing. But Jesus cares more about the conversation his beloved sons and daughters have with him than merely hearing the facts. And Jesus cares that his beloved sons and daughters understand what is being communicated in and through God’s word.

So Jesus explained the scriptures to these two disciples on this walk. By the time they reached their destination, Jesus acted as if he would continue walking, but they begged him to stay the night. So Jesus stayed. When they sat down for a meal, Jesus broke bread and blessed it. This is when their eyes were opened and they could see it was Jesus! And it was at that moment that Jesus disappeared. They remarked with each other how they had felt a burning in their hearts when Jesus had explained the Scriptures to them. And within the hour, they finished dinner and got back to walking. They actually walked right back to Jerusalem, where they were that morning, and they found the other disciples who also testified, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter!”