Today, we come again to dine at a table, but this time with a stranger.
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, the stranger continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So the stranger went in to stay with them and have dinner. Luke 24:13-29 NIV
Now most of the time at Easter we talk about the story of Mary at the tomb or of Peter running to the tomb to see for himself or of Thomas saying I won’t believe until I see for myself. But today I want to talk about someone else because I think in many ways this person represents each of us gathered here.
Cleopas was knowledgeable about the stories of Jesus. He engaged in the discussion of spiritual matters. But on this Easter morning we find Cleopas still going in the wrong direction.
We are very much like Cleopas. We like to talk about matters of faith. We like to talk about spiritual things. We like to claim faith in God. Harris polls indicate 90% of Americans believe in God. But all the belief, all the discussion, all the reading, all the knowledge seems to have little effect on how we live and act.
Truth is with all we know and all that we believe we, like Cleopas, we are still headed in the wrong direction.
Here we are once again gathered on a Easter Morning, but I believe we have each gathered hoping that Easter will somehow be different this year. And it can be. On this Easter morning, Jesus is once again seeking to find someone to dine with Him at the table – perhaps it is you that has been invited to an intimate dinner for two!
That first Easter morning, Christ spoke with Cleopas as he was headed in the wrong direction. Jesus revealed to Cleopas that all the knowledge that he had was meaningless without the faith that would compel him to act differently.
In that moment, Cleopas was still too focused on the events of the past and as a result he was missing all that was available to him in the present. As their encounter together drew to a close, Jesus finds Himself once again in a familiar place – the table.
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. Luke 24:30-31 NIV
It is during this simple act of breaking bread at the table that Cleopas realizes who this stranger is that has been speaking to him. It is Jesus. And in that moment of realization everything changes. Life has a new direction. (Rise from the table and read screen)
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. Luke 24:33-35 NIV
So, I invite you this day as Jesus did so long ago to come to the table and break the bread.
It is my prayer that this day you can see that all that has happened in the life of Christ, and in your life, was to bring you to this moment - to this table. The faith that has brought you to this place today matters - It matters beyond today. It matters always and forever.
As you come this day to this place, discover a new direction for your life ... direction filled with meaning and purpose ... direction that leads to the empty tomb ... direction that leads to the table.
In Revelation 3:20 CEB Jesus speaks and says,
Look! I’m standing at the door and knocking. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to be with them, and will have dinner with them, and they will have dinner with me.
Come to the table and break the bread and see for yourself.
Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus the Messiah. Jesus your Savior.
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