Road to Emmaus–Our 50-day Walk with the Risen Lord

On the Road to Emmaus

“Two of them that same day were making their way to a village named Emmaus seven miles distant from Jerusalem, discussing as they went all that had happened.  In the course of their lively exchange, Jesus approached and began to walk along with them.” — Luke 24: 13-15

Points to Consider

• In the Gospels, Jesus makes repeated demands for an act of faith in the person of Jesus, Himself.  He claims to be the object of human faith.
• A Christian makes an act of faith in Jesus that draws the believer into a personal relationship with Jesus.  We trust and love Jesus no matter what; when things are going well and when things don’t go well.
• It was not an embarrassment for the early Christians that their Savior died like a slave and criminal on the cross and they did not cover it up.  Instead it became a central theme of their faith as they spread that faith all over the ancient world.
• Faith in Jesus Christ also requires faith in the Resurrection.  This was not easy; even for the Apostles and the holy women who followed Jesus.  Remember, the holy women were on their way to the tomb to anoint a corpse.  Mary Magdalene thought Jesus was a gardener that had moved her Lord’s body.  Because he wasn’t there, Thomas doubted that Jesus appeared to the apostles in the upper room.  He had to be shown.  All of the Resurrection narratives are conversion stories to faith in Jesus’ Resurrection.

Investigation

In the narrative that begins this blog post, identify the occasion of conversion in the Resurrection of Jesus.  Who converts?  What convinces them?

Ask the same questions after reading Matthew 28; Mark 16; and John 20-21.

Meditation

Why does it make a difference to me that Jesus rose from the dead?  (1 Corinthians 15: 12-28)