Sermon for 18 April 1999, 8:00 am, St Mary Magdalen, Sheet, published on www.trikeshed.com

Third Sunday of Easter

Luke 24:13-35

Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognised by them when he broke the bread (v35, NIV)

This is a very beautiful story, the appearance of Jesus on the road to Emmaus. It has all the right ingredients. Two of his disciples walking home, two men, or (as I rather like to think) Cleopas and his wife. The earnest conversation, the despondency; the appearance of the stranger at their side; their confused reports, visions of angels; his uncannily deep knowledge. Hospitality and food, bread broken, then …gone

Jesus made himself known in the breaking of bread.

This event happened on Easter Day. With the tranquillity of the story it’s hard to believe that the turmoil of Good Friday was only two days ago, the pathos of Maundy Thursday and the Last Supper only three days ago. The events over those three days changed the world completely, so much that we should consider this story, on Easter Day, as belonging to our era. A story of our own time.

On the face of it it’s rather a nice little story, part of those very few chapters of the Bible that tell us about the last forty days of Jesus’ time on earth. But those few words about those days tell us a great deal. The way in which Jesus appeared at that time is actually very important for our faith today. How is that then?

Jesus appeared to his friends. And we might say ‘how wonderful to have been in their position, to see him, talk with him, eat with him’. I’ve trodden in his footsteps, as much as is possible on an organised coach tour – maybe some of you have too – and it is wonderful. But aren’t we actually more blessed now? We’re able to be part of a worldwide family. We can be Christians in Sheet, in fellowship with Christians in Kosovo or in Jerusalem. We don’t need his physical presence, we don’t all need to be in one place. It seems, looking at this story and the others, that Jesus’ appearance was just what was needed to convince enough frightened and confused disciples that he really was risen, but no more. It’s like when I leave my little boy at the nursery and have to make myself say goodbye, just once, and then turn away and leave him in the care of those I’ve decided to trust. Usually, to linger at that point does him (or me) no good at all.

So it was for this couple in the story. They go through all that conversation without knowing who it was, they go to all the trouble of preparing a meal for him, and then, just as they recognize him in the way he broke bread, they have a lovely evening with Jesus, talking about old times, maybe learning even more about the Scriptures? No, he disappeared from their sight. Immediately!

Then their eyes were opened and he disappeared from their sight (v31, NIV)

Think about it, if he didn’t leave them then, when would he have left them? The next morning? After a week? A year? The fact that he left them there and then means that from that moment, those disciples were just like us. The story of the Emmaus road is actually our story.

• We talk about what happened. Yes, we still talk about the events of those three days!
• We encounter strangers on our way. Or we see our family and friends in a new light sometimes.
• We offer the hospitality of our homes and our hearts.

Jesus makes himself known to us in the breaking of bread. He is no more with us physically than he was with them as they ran back to Jerusalem. But he is with us, as he was with them. And maybe we will be able to look back over the day and the week just past, at the encounters we have had with people, at the demands made on us, the challenges we’ve faced, the joys and sadnesses we have shared, and say with those disciples:

My prayer is that that fire in our hearts will empower us as it did them - to go at once to proclaim the risen Lord to our friends and loved ones.

© Mike Knee, 1999

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