In our fast-paced days in this culture, I hope to help us learn to change gears and bring in some whole-hearted conversations about God as we go along the way.
Many people understand and agree The Bible to be the Word of God. Making time to seek God in His word is a daily challenge. And talking about the things of God a whole other test.
We face hardship and brokenness,
but in this greatest of all stories, “along the way,” perhaps we can be strengthened to see Jesus, not in our heads, but 18 inches lower, in the retelling of it:
News stories are often the talk of town, but there is one that had everyone in town talking.
Two men left Jerusalem sad and weary after a prophet of dynamic works and word, blessed by God and all the people around, known as Jesus the Nazarene had been betrayed and sentenced to death. They were talking and a stranger joined them,
“What’s the conversation about?”
They had no clue it was Jesus. They didn’t recognize Him, so one of them answered,
“Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what’s happened during the last few days?” (1)
“The One about to deliver Israel is dead. It’s been three days. And not only that, some women said they couldn’t find his body and they saw an angel that said, ‘he’s alive.'”
“And there were some friends that went and said they found it empty as the women did, but they didn’t see him.”
As they talked along the way, the stranger said to them,
“How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (2)
Can you imagine a 5-7 mile walk with Jesus sharing Himself in all of the words of Moses and the Prophets? The Alpha and Omega speaking the stories himself.
But even greater is when they saw it was He:
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. (3)
Let’s keep our eyes and ears open and may the Lord give us help to see Him as these two men did:
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. (4)
We too, go along our way, not recognizing Jesus, but, as the bread is broken, God allows brokenness in our lives. It is then that our eyes are willing to see Jesus. Our hearts are opened to the blessings of God, far exceeding anything we can comprehend or attain on our own.
Children face times of discouragement and brokenness as well. How beautiful to retell this story where Jesus broke the bread and blessed it.
When we invite Jesus in to heal our broken state, He blesses us.
Our hearts begin to burn, and a hunger and thirst is kindled within us to know him more.
They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (5)
Yes, our hearts burn, and we go to tell the story to anyone who has ears to hear, like these two men on their journey after Jesus had died.
They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. (5)
Jesus is the broken bread. He’s been poured out for us. His blood on the cross is what allows for our healed lives.
Can you see Jesus break the bread and bless it?
His Word is our healing, peace, and rest. His Story is Love for all who ask.
(1) Luke 24:18, The Message
(2) Luke 24:25-27, NIV
(3) Luke 24:28-29, NIV
(4) Luke 24: 30-32, NIV
(5) Luke 24: 33-35, NIV
