Sometimes things happen in our lives that upset the apple cart. It throws a wrench into our plans and things are not how they were supposed to be. We become frustrated, angry, and worst of all we feel like we have been left ‘holding the bag’. We want to run, get away from the scene of the incident, the mistake, the misunderstanding, the trauma. We may or may not physically leave our location, but we need a mental leave of absence from everything around us to escape to a place of calm. A place where we regain control of our lives.

It was like that for two of Jesus’ disciples after his death. What sorrow they felt! But also, confusion, abandonment and disappointment. Disappointed that it ended like this. Messiah, the one to lead Israel from under foreign rule is dead. Did we get it all wrong? These two disciples, mourning his death with the others, took all they could bear and decided they needed to get away. Here’s their story.

Got to Get Away

Jesus had been resurrected and Mary and the other women returned with the news that Jesus was not in his tomb. The disciples did not believe them. After finding the tomb empty as well, Peter later reported an encounter  with Jesus. His report was equally questioned. Two disciples had enough and decided to go to the small village of Emmaus.

Luke 24: 13-35 ESV

¹³ That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,

Can you imagine being on the team that lost the Superbowl? You just want to take off your uniform and slip out the back entrance incognito. You do not want to give any interviews or look into the downcast faces of fellow losers who had no answers that would make the loss any less disappointing.

Not the One

¹⁴ and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.

That Jesus was not the One seemed unfathomable given all the events of the last three years. In the light of that and everyone being at risk for arrest, it seemed like a good idea to hold up in Emmaus for a while.

Emmaus was to these disciples as the cave was to Elijah (1 Kings 19:9), a hiding place, an escape from everything that went wrong. The next morning God asked, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Mount Carmel was where it all happened for Elijah (I Kings 18:17-40). It was there he facilitated God’s glory but now he was running from the threat of death.

Jerusalem was where it all happened for the disciples. Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem was met by glorious shouts of adoration. But now as with Elijah all who were associated with Jesus were in hiding.

When we are troubled with what makes no sense to us, we may make our way to a place that has no significance to what is going on in our lives. It is just somewhere else other than where we are. We check out mentally and set out for that place of ambiguity hoping for some answers along the way. We are searching for our “next” hoping it will drown out our present.

 The Fumble

¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.

¹⁶ But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

¹⁷ And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad.

A stranger approached the disciples, saw how sad they looked and inquired of their conversation. Sometimes we are so deep into rehearsing the chain of events and searching for answers, we fail to see the answer staring us in the face. This is a good illustration of Shepherd Jesus leaving the flock of disciples in Jerusalem and going to retrieve the two that wandered away (Matthew 18:12).

¹⁸ Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

¹⁹ And he said to them, “What things?”

Jesus faked ignorance.

And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,

²⁰ and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.

²¹ But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.

²² Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning,

²³ and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.

²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

The disciples let it all out seemingly in one breath. It was a relief to tell someone who did not know the atrocities that had occurred, so they thought. Compassionate Christ allows us to release our pent-up anger and frustrations. He does not give them relief by telling them how it will all end which would have dissipated their sorrow. Neither does he reveal to us where the trauma in our lives will take us. God required the disciples to have faith and trust in Him just as he requires us to have faith and trust in him for our outcome. Jesus knows how it all ends while we faithlessly allow the moment to consume us. It is through these times of trust-falling He perfects our faith (Hebrews 12: 1-3). We must know that if we trust God, regardless of what it looks like, He will use the very circumstances from which we flee as building blocks for a good future (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28).

Was It Not Necessary?

²⁵ And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

²⁶ Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”

As we consider the past events, can we say “Was it not necessary?” Can we look back at a time in our lives of utter confusion and dismay but can now say ‘it was necessary’ because it brought us into a greater glory? Have you not grown in greater measure than you were before those events occurred? Was it not necessary?

Then Jesus breaks it down to them…

²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

At first, this was a stranger that did not seem to be aware of what had occurred over the last three days but now he takes them from Genesis to Malachi and shows them a portrait of himself in every book!

Jesus Revealed

²⁸ So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther,

²⁹ but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.

³⁰ When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.

³¹ And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.

In the cave, as in Emmaus, the place of I just don’t know where I’m at, I don’t feel anything, I don’t see anything… Jesus walks up on us. He inquires of our welfare like he doesn’t already know. Why?

To give us voice that we may empty ourselves before Him! The anguish, the fear, the anger. He listens, then calls us foolish and explains to us again that he is I Am

Elijah felt he was alone and simply wanted to die . God let Elijah know he was not alone for he had seven thousand worshippers that had not bowed down to Baal. God will take you through every aspect of your life and show you how he revealed His Presence to you to let you know He has not abandoned you. Suffering in Christ does not equate to abandonment rather we know as we suffer like him we shall reign with him in eternity.

Rescue by Lauren Daigle

³² They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

³³ And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,

Jesus left his flock in Jerusalem to retrieve these two that decided to go to Emmaus. It sounded like a good idea, but it was not a God idea. They did not delay and returned to Jerusalem. Jesus had to bring them back to the place of blessing. Sometimes the place of blessing is the place you are trying to get away from. God can change the atmosphere, and He did just that in the upper room on the day of Pentecost.

It is right there in the middle of your mess God takes its remnants and constructs a message that no one can replicate because it is birthed out of the pangs of your suffering and the blossoming of your faith. All of us have felt alone at some point but know He’s coming to get you, to bring you back to a place of abundance where your heart is overflowing with His love. He will leave all others to go after you.

He is the One

³⁴ saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 

³⁵ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

When Jesus broke the bread and blessed it. the disciples remembered the Last Supper and their eyes opened knowing it was Jesus who sat across from them!

Whenever Jesus allows life to break us, He also provides us with an opportunity to see Him in a new and powerful light. When He does, He will cause us to return to the place we are running from in renewed strength and glory.

Cleopas was the only disciple named of the two on the Road to Emmaus. His name means “glory of the Father”. God knows your name and whatever your given name might mean is insignificant to God. It is what He calls you to that is important to Him. Assess yourself. What road are you on? Are you walking away, distancing yourself from what God has called you to? If you are, turn around, go back to where it all happened. Trust Him for deliverance waits for you there. So, get off the road to Emmaus and go back to where God will endow you with whatever you need to Move in Faith in 2025 like you have never moved before. FAITH ALIVE in 2025!

Blessings to you.

References

Featured photo credit to TamalRay of Pixabay.com

“Rescue ” by Lauren Daigle