Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus

Today we continue in our Easter teaching series called Encounters.

We are looking at different stories in the bible where people personally encounter Jesus. Today we are looking at Jesus’ encounter with two disciples walking down the Emmaus Road

What did this encounter mean for them? What can we learn for our lives today?

In Lukes Gospel, this is the first post-resurrection encounter of Jesus.

As they are walking along, the text says they were discussing everything that had happened. The language here indicates this more than a casual discussion- it was one of passion and perhaps even debate.

Disillusioned and confused, they start walking away- trying to sort it all out as they go down the road. And that’s when Jesus shows up.

The weight they were carrying becomes clear as Jesus invites himself into their conversation. Literally the emotion, the burden of what has just taken place is written all over their face.

In the Jewish tradition, 3 days after death was the point of no return- death was final at that point.

For these disciples, it was more than Jesus that was dead- their hope of him overthrowing the Roman’s and returning the nation of Israel to a place of prominence and freedom was over too.

What they had focused on, what they thought was sure to come, what they were excited about- was over. It didn’t come, and seemingly never would.

Have you ever been there?

Jesus continues the conversation with some stiff words- calling out their resistance to believing all that was written about Jesus.

It’s interesting here- Jesus doesn’t go after them for not believing his own teaching, or his own words about his identity and resurrection. He doesn’t even rebuke them for not believing the testimony of the women, or the other disciples, or even the empty tomb itself.

He calls them out because they have not believed what the word of God, the bible said about him.

Jesus was willing to walk a little while with these disciples as they were walking away. But he stayed with them because they asked.

One encounter is all it took and their hearts were aflame with hope. The scriptures and the stories they couldn’t figure out, were now alive and right in front of them. And their hearts were on fire.

All of the information, the questions, the thoughts they had about Jesus, came alive in the person of Jesus, right before their eyes. This was the encounter that changed everything for these two disciples.

We know from this encounter story that Jesus is alive.

We know that he is the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan according to the scriptures.

And he is still encountering people who are seeking him in the every day events of life.


The question that remains for us is simply this: Will you look for Jesus, right here? Here in the everyday moments and needs of your life?

Will you ask, seek, and knock for an encounter with Jesus himself?