Jesus is Here
By Tanja Tuovinen
“As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing Him.”
Luke 24:15-16
What is happening in your life right now? Perhaps you are caring for children or grandchildren, studying and debating life’s big questions, or working long hours to stay on top of your responsibilities. Maybe you are on holiday, and everything has gone wrong, leaving you stressed and stranded. You could be sitting beside a loved one in hospital, following troubling world events, or preparing for prayer because you see how much the world needs Jesus. Or you might be making dinner when someone unexpectedly asks, “What is the meaning of life?”
In Luke’s Gospel, a disciple asked, “Are you the only one around here who doesn’t know what’s happened?” He said this to the resurrected Jesus, who was walking beside him on the road to Emmaus. This Cleopas was trying to explain to the ‘stranger’ everything about Jesus of Nazareth—the prophet who performed miracles, was crucified, and was meant to rise on the third day. There had been such hope for what Jesus would do for Israel. Yet despite walking with Him and speaking about Him, the disciple didn’t recognise Jesus until they shared a meal together, and then his eyes were opened.
Jesus had already prepared the disciples for what was to come. He had told them that the Son of Man must suffer, be rejected by the elders, be mocked, scourged, and killed, and that He would rise again after three days.
He said the:
- Son of Man must suffer
- Son of Man will be rejected by the elders
- Son of Man must be killed
- Son of Man will be spat on, mocked, scourged and killed by the Gentiles
- Son of Man will rise in three days
As Jesus walked with the disciples on that road to Emmaus, He fully understood what had happened and the significance of His death and resurrection.[1] Still, it was a heavy burden for the disciples. Jesus had been dear to them, and His death felt like the end of all hope. To them, the cross and the empty tomb seemed to diminish everything they believed.
Only the risen Jesus, appearing in His restored life, was able to change their understanding. The Bible shows that Jesus had to suffer before attaining glory. “Recognizing Jesus as the resurrected Christ required recognizing that Jesus had to die according to God’s plan.”[2]
As Isaiah writes,
He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Isaiah 53:3
Jesus went through pain, suffering, being mocked, spat upon, and He was rejected by His own. The resurrection of Jesus is central to Christian faith. It is our hope. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too have the promise of resurrection.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:20
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, conquering death and making salvation possible. Through His sacrifice, our sins are forgiven, we are reconciled to God the Father, and we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the way to the Father.
Are you walking your own road to Emmaus today, unaware that Jesus is closer than you think? Jesus promised not to leave us alone but to send the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us. When we give our lives to Jesus, we receive true hope, assurance of salvation, and the promise of eternal life. May the Holy Spirit open our eyes to see Jesus walking with us, bringing hope and life.
[1] David E. Garland, ed., Luke: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary Series: New Testament 3 (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012).
[2] Garland, Luke.
