Luke 24: 13-35 on April 27th, 2025
Above is audio of the sermon pulled from the video and amplified.
Below is transcript pulled from the video and formatted by artificial intelligence. There may be inconsistencies or errors.
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Sometimes stories shape us before we even realize it. And sometimes we hold on to stories so tightly that we don't notice when we are missing the truth. And sometimes Jesus simply needs to tell us that story again. That is what we get today in our story about the walk to Emmaus.
This scene happens on the same day as the women's discovery of the empty tomb which we heard last week. Cleopas sent his traveling companion our leaving Jerusalem. Perhaps they are simply returning home after the disappointing events or maybe they are things to do in life because unfortunately life doesn't pause for grief. Sometimes all we can do is walk the road we are on. Maybe they are giving up. There is no sense in hanging around here anymore, right?
And even when Jesus shows up they don't know it. This stranger to them asks them, hey what are you two talking about? And assuming that this stranger is clueless, are you the only one who doesn't know? Obviously he knows. He is the one who knows best. He himself has experienced exactly what they are talking about. What things? The things about Jesus of Nazareth.
And then these two disciples tell their story of what happened. Jesus was a prophet. He was mighty. He did amazing things. But our people handed him over to be crucified and died. We had hoped that he was the one. These disciples explain to Jesus that their leader, Jesus, had just died on a cross. And for them they call him a prophet. And that shows they still don't quite get it. They still don't quite know who he is. And he was that he is the Messiah.
And as they tell their story we see that their hopes were dashed. But the disappointment isn't the end of their telling. Some women shocked us by saying that his tomb is empty and then others went and verified their story but they didn't see him. Because the women and the others didn't see Jesus, they again make an assumption. That story must be wrong. Cleopus can't see it in front of him. He describes his dashed hopes and narrow world view directly to the one in whom all those hopes are fulfilled for the world.
And Jesus's question here, what are you discussing? Makes me think that we should pause and pay attention to the stories that we hear, that we tell that shape our world view. We often tell incomplete or misguided stories, stories that miss the truth that are shaped by our own disappointment or assumptions and limited understanding. And that's how we like that disciples can be blind to Jesus's presence, caught in our own narrow views and dismissive of resurrection hope simply because it doesn't fit our expectations.
These disciples tell the story from their point of view. They discuss someone else's suffering and assume they understand. So what they really need to do is listen to him tell the story. And Jesus knows that. So he doesn't give up on them. He doesn't scold. He tells the story again. He opens the scriptures and that reframes everything.
I touched on this last week but that is what we do each and every week as we gather as the body of Christ. We remember and we remind. We listen for Jesus in the stories that we tell. We look for a resurrected Christ in the midst of our assumptions and confusion. We pause and we pay attention to where Jesus is among us. And we listen as Jesus retells our story and love and reframes everything with grace.
As we tell our stories, as we listen to others, as Jesus's story is told again, Jesus is right there listening, hearing and then interpreting for us how life can come out of death, how love can conquer all, how resurrection shows up even when we can't see it.
Sometimes we struggle to see where God is leading our community. And tonight we'll do some storytelling, some listening, some hoping for the future. We'll gather for our crossing thresholds of events and tell the story of St. Phillips past, present and future. We will plan, we will hope, we will listen together. And hopefully we will hear Jesus interpreting these things so that we can see Him on the roads that we walked walking with us now and on the road ahead.
But back to our Emmaus road, then they all come near the village and these disciples urge the stranger to stay. And then comes the moment. While he's at the table with them, he takes the bread. He gives thanks, he breaks it, he gives it to them. Their eyes are opened. That is when they see. And it's interesting to me that it's not his teaching that opens their eyes. It's not his presence. It's him sharing bread with his friends. It is him blessing food at an ordinary table with ordinary bread. Their eyes are opened and they recognize him. That's where grace breaks in, not when they figure it out, but when Jesus feeds them. And in feeding them, Jesus opens their eyes, hoping them see that Jesus was with them the whole entire time.
And again, every week we gather and we share an amoeil that Jesus hosts for us. He tells us again the story of betrayal, of giving thanks, of new covenants, of remembering His love and His resurrection. He breaks bread with us, opening our hearts in our eyes so that we can see Jesus with us now and always.
These disciples are overwhelmed. We're not our hearts burning within us. So they run back to Jerusalem, back to community, back to fellowship, back to share the story with eyes opened and hearts aflame.
This narrative about the road to Emmaus is not just another story from the Bible. It's a story about us because Emmaus didn't just happen. Emmaus always happens. Emmaus happens when we're walking away and Jesus shows up anyway. Emmaus happens when we hear the same story, but Jesus makes it alive. Emmaus happens at tables, in kitchens, at altars, over coffee, and grace and community surprises. Emmaus happens when we realize the story isn't over.
The stories that we tell shape our vision. And in Jesus, in love, Jesus interprets those stories to tell us again the truth of resurrection and grace. Just like Emmaus, Jesus still walks with us. Opens the scriptures to us and reveals himself in the breaking of the bread.
So thanks be to God that Jesus keeps telling us that story over and over and over. And each time God renews us, opens our eyes, sets our hearts on fire. Because Emmaus didn't just happen. The Emmaus always happens. Amen.