A brief reflection on Luke 24:13-35

Two people walked down the road to Emmaus. They were having a bit of a pity party. Just before they cut the cake at the pity party, Jesus showed up. Yet, they were kept from recognizing him. Perhaps God prevented them from recognizing Jesus to enable a point to be made moments later. Perrhaps their heart condition prevented them from recognizing Jesus. Either way, the incognito Jesus posed a question: “What are you discussing?

The duo explained their unmet expectations: We thought Jesus would redeem us. Yet, Jesus did not live up to our expectations. Jesus was captured by the authorities and was sentenced to death. They actually crucified him. We never imagined that! Some women went to the tomb where they buried him and they came back excited about an empty tomb. We don’t get it. This is not how we pictured it.

Jesus responded to the duo how he often responds to us, “How foolish…” Jesus went on to say, “Did you not know the Christ had to suffer these things?” Ultimately, Jesus responded with a Bible study.

Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus explained to them what was said in the Scriptures concerning himself. Think about that. Think of all of the things Jesus could have done to show himself … and he chose to use the Scriptures. This speaks to the power of the Scriptures. We often want something dramatic. Something flashy. Yet, Jesus feels that Scripture is enough.

At the conclusion of this story the two road-walkers broke bread with Jesus. Suddenly Their slow hearts quickly thumped. At this point they recognized Jesus. And they asked, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

I ask a similar question: When was the last time your heart burned from reading the Scriptures?