Luke 24:18-24: a reflection

18One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things which have happened there in these days?” 19He said to them, “What things?” They said to him, “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; 20and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21But we were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22Also, certain women of our company amazed us, having arrived early at the tomb; 23and when they didn’t find his body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24Some of us went to the tomb and found it just like the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”

On the road to Emmaus, two disillusioned disciples, walking away from Jerusalem in their disappointment, tell the whole sad story to a stranger, not realizing that the stranger walking with them is the risen Jesus himself. We were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel, they say of Jesus, who was crucified. Their hopes had been dashed by the crucifixion; they had hoped Jesus would redeem Israel, but he had been put to death, and their hope with him. And now, downcast and disillusioned, they walk away, telling their sad story to one they take for a stranger, not recognizing that it is the risen Christ himself walking beside them, their hope not dead but standing in their midst. This shows that Christ draws near in our disappointment, even when we do not recognize him. Christ draws near in our disappointment, often unrecognized. Our dashed hopes are not the whole story; Christ is near. The risen Christ walked with them even in their disillusionment. Christ is present even when we do not recognize him in our sorrow.

Notice the poignant situation of these disciples. Their hopes had been shattered; they had hoped Jesus would redeem Israel, and instead he had been crucified. Now they were walking away from Jerusalem, downcast and disillusioned, their hope apparently dead. And in their disappointment, they pour out the whole sad story to a stranger who has joined them on the road. But here is the wonder: the stranger is Jesus himself, risen from the dead, walking with them, though they do not recognize him. Their hope was not dead at all; it was walking beside them, alive. This holds a beautiful comfort for us in our own disappointments. Like these disciples, we can have our hopes dashed, walk away downcast and disillusioned, feeling that what we hoped for is dead. And in such times, Christ may be nearer than we know, walking with us even in our disappointment, even when we do not recognize him. Our dashed hopes are not the whole story; the risen Christ is near, present, alive, even in our sorrow and disillusionment. He draws near to us in our disappointment, walks with us, though we may not recognize him at first. We are not alone in our disappointment; Christ is near, and our situation may hold more hope than we can yet see. When you are downcast and disillusioned, remember that Christ may be walking with you even unrecognized. Christ draws near in our disappointment, though often unrecognized. Our dashed hopes are not the whole story; the risen Christ is near. We are not alone in our disillusionment; Christ walks with us.

That is worth resting in, for Christ draws near to us in our disappointment, walking with us even when we do not recognize him, so that our dashed hopes are not the whole story, as the risen Jesus walked with the downcast disciples on the road to Emmaus. We can have our hopes dashed and walk away disillusioned, feeling what we hoped for is dead; but the disciples' hope was not dead, it was walking beside them in the risen Christ, though they did not recognize him. Christ is near. When you are downcast and disillusioned, remember that Christ may be walking with you even unrecognized, and your situation may hold more hope than you can yet see. Rest in the truth that Christ draws near to us in our disappointment and disillusionment, walking with us even when we do not recognize him, so that our dashed hopes are not the whole story, as on the road to Emmaus two disillusioned disciples, walking away from Jerusalem in their disappointment, told the whole sad story to a stranger, saying they had hoped Jesus would redeem Israel but he had been crucified, not realizing that the stranger walking with them was the risen Jesus himself; for their hopes had been dashed by the crucifixion, and now downcast they walked away, telling their sad story to one they took for a stranger, not recognizing that it was the risen Christ walking beside them, their hope not dead but standing in their midst, which holds a beautiful comfort for us in our own disappointments, since like these disciples we can have our hopes dashed and walk away disillusioned, feeling what we hoped for is dead, but in such times Christ may be nearer than we know, walking with us even when we do not recognize him, so that our dashed hopes are not the whole story and the risen Christ is near, present, and alive even in our sorrow, drawing near to us in our disappointment though we may not recognize him at first, so that we are not alone and our situation may hold more hope than we can yet see.

Lord Jesus, on the road to Emmaus, two disillusioned disciples, walking away from Jerusalem in their disappointment, tell the whole sad story to a stranger, not realizing that the stranger walking with them is you, the risen Christ himself. We were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel, they say of you, who was crucified. Their hopes had been dashed by the crucifixion; they had hoped you would redeem Israel, but you had been put to death, and their hope with you. And now, downcast and disillusioned, they walk away, telling their sad story to one they take for a stranger, not recognizing that it is you, the risen Christ, walking beside them, their hope not dead but standing in their midst. Show me the poignant situation of these disciples. Their hopes had been shattered; they had hoped you would redeem Israel, and instead you had been crucified. Now they were walking away, downcast, their hope apparently dead. And in their disappointment, they pour out the whole sad story to a stranger. But here is the wonder: the stranger is you, risen from the dead, walking with them, though they do not recognize you. Their hope was not dead at all; it was walking beside them, alive. This holds a beautiful comfort for me in my own disappointments. Like these disciples, I can have my hopes dashed, walk away downcast and disillusioned, feeling that what I hoped for is dead. And in such times, you may be nearer than I know, walking with me even in my disappointment, even when I do not recognize you. My dashed hopes are not the whole story; you, the risen Christ, are near, present, alive, even in my sorrow. Take that to my heart, for you draw near in my disappointment, often unrecognized. When I am downcast and disillusioned, help me remember that you may be walking with me even unrecognized, Lord, that my dashed hopes are not the whole story, and that my situation may hold more hope than I can yet see, for you, the risen Christ, are near.