Witness Story Confirmed! – Luke 24

A text — Luke 24:13-36
24:13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,
24:14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
24:15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them,
24:16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
24:17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.
Verses 18-29 – the two relate the entire story of the death of Jesus and the reports on Easter of women having seen him; Jesus explains how all that had happened fulfills prophesy. Then they ask him to stay with them, as night was coming.

24:30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
24:31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.
24:32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”
24:33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.
24:34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!”
24:35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
24:36 While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

A reflection:

Can you imagine this afternoon and evening? First the sad walk to Emmaus for those two people, then the wonder at what the stranger was telling them, and then the shock of recognizing Jesus when they broke bread together? Can you imagine their running the seven miles back to Jerusalem to find the 11 hiding as they discussed reported appearances of Jesus. Can you imagine them relating their own story of seeing him? They must have thought their tale would not be believed by the disciples. And then, during this testimony, JESUS APPEARS.

Wow. Great timing! Confirmation of exactly what they and other witnesses had said! Jesus continuing to appear, right in their midst! Why did it happen this way? What was Jesus up to in these appearances, to some but not all, especially not to the 11 disciples first and foremost?

I wonder if he might have been building up some energy and courage in the community of followers. I wonder if he might have been training them to witness, first to one another as believers, so that later they could witness, testify, to strangers. I wonder if Jesus was creating a team of folks who could spread the good news of his Resurrection first among the Jews who already believed in Jesus, so that they would be experienced enough to spread the good news farther to the Gentiles.

I wonder if Jesus has such plans for us as well.  How might we bring good news to our neighbors? How might we care for the neighbor in such a way as to help them see Jesus, our hope for conquering even death?

A prayer:

Dear Lord, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for trusting us with your good news. Help us to see times and places where we can share it to bless others. Amen.