Walking the Emmaus Road

by W. H. Olson

Dark with despair were the hearts of two of Jesus' followers who, three days after His death, journeyed to Emmaus, a village near Jerusalem. Sadness gripped them as they relived those days when Christ was their constant companion. Now He was gone, and memory of brighter days and happier hours spent together was their only companion. All hope had fled, all happiness and joy had been swept away in three short days.

These followers had seen the tragedy of the mock trial, the tragedy of the Cross, the tragedy of the tomb. But what they had not seen was the glory of the Resurrection!

Talking with a Stranger

Suddenly, they became aware that a Stranger was by their side. How could they talk of anything else but the events of the last few days? Jesus knew all about it, even to the minutest detail, yet He listened intently as they told Him of their sadness.

Isn't that just like Christ? Though He knows our trials and troubles, He loves to hear from our lips as we converse with Him through prayer.

These two disciples were in the very presence of divinity, yet they did not know it. Jesus was near, so near He could have touched them, yet they were so absorbed in despair and darkness that they couldn't see Him.

That evening as they sat together around a simple meal, Jesus revealed Himself to them. We are not told just how He did it, for He comes to all in different ways and on different occasions. The thing that vitally concerns us is that He was there, by their side, just when they needed Him most.

A personal road

At this very moment, you may be walking one of earth's many roads that leads to an Emmaus experience. There is one near you, for no doubt you have just turned onto it or have just come off it. But remember this: No Emmaus road is dark or rough enough to exclude the Christ who walked that day beside those who witnessed the tragedy of the Cross.

David, a writer of many psalms, learned to sing as he walked along his Emmaus road. Why? Because he had learned that by his side walked One who knew the way. There was One near him whom he had learned to trust, who could see both ends of the road at the same time. As with David, this abiding faith lifts our eyes from our immediate surroundings to that eternal presence of Christ.

Seeing Jesus

Outside the gates of Jerusalem a group of men were committing a horrible murder. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was giving his life for the cause he held and that held him true to the end. Saul, a great enemy of the church, was there to witness this tragedy. But similar to the tragedy of Jesus' crucifixion a few years previous, this tragedy has been influential in bringing greater service and devotion to Christ.

Those men looked down and saw only rocks and stones, but Stephen looked up and saw the heavens open and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. What a contrast! They only saw stones and dust, but Stephen, in his darkest hour, looked beyond and above and saw the Lord of all things standing near to encourage him.

A Stranger's company

There will be rocks and stones, hills and valleys, cold and heat on your Emmaus road, but look up and see that a Stranger has joined your company. He knows the road, for well He traversed it long ago. He is now eager to join your side and converse with you of the things that seem so hard to understand.

Someone has joined you, Someone who will walk by your side as long as you welcome His presence and continue to say in your heart, "Stay with me, for it is almost evening, and the day is nearly gone." Jesus will not leave you nor forsake you, even in life's darkest hour.

When your Emmaus road passes one tragedy after another, when darkness settles around you, remember that Jesus walks with you. Look up, for He is at your side. He will stay with you to the road's end.

A version of this article appeared in a past issue of the Bible Advocate magazine. For a free subscription, contact us at bibleadvocate@cog7.org

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