The disciples that walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus were completely oblivious to Jesus identity until after he broke the bread. The hope this gives to us is that in midst of the issues that take up our time and worry, live rent free in our minds for extended periods and keep us separated from Christ’s presence—not to mention the lives we’re intended to live—as if we were facing the world alone is that not only is Jesus not absent, but it’s precisely in these times of distraction and isolation that he journeys with us.
Jesus is there with us as we grieve at the pain and loss of death. Jesus is there as we try to make sense of why we bother to get up out of bed every morning to face the daily grind. Jesus is there as we go to ever increasing number of doctors and specialist appointments, Jesus is there as we struggle with family relationships. Jesus is walking beside us in all of these situations. This is the promise of our faith.
Having said this, Jesus presence isn’t simply about us having some nice feel good experience even though these words bring us comfort. Jesus presence with us is about teaching and challenge and change for there are times that Jesus is alongside us in ways that may be unexpected and even uncomfortable.
Ultimately the experience for the disciples of Jesus appearance to them is not just about them and what they get out of it. Jesus leaves the disciples and they go back to the others to share their news. They were energized by Jesus appearance to them, energized to go and share the good news—to follow him and in doing so to share his ministry.
Encountering the risen Jesus invites our response. Our experience of him changes us. The story of Jesus appearance on the road to Emmaus is certainly a challenging one – it reminds us that whilst Jesus may be alongside us sometimes it takes some pretty direct action for us to see that.
But having met with the risen Jesus we too can be encouraged and inspired in our journey to keep our hearts and minds open to his constant presence with us inviting us to grow as we follow him. And more than that we contemplate how we meet Jesus in others and how through our lives and the questions we raise we bring Jesus to others.