Alongside

Their spirits couldn’t have been lower. The bottom had fallen out of their world and they decided there was nothing left for them in Jerusalem. They may as well go home. And so they began the 7 mile walk back to Emmaus, going over and over what had happened in the last few days, trying to make some sort of sense of it all.  At first, they took no notice of the stranger who walked alongside them. Where had he even come from? And then he started to talk. Asking questions. Where had he been for the last week, to have not heard about the goings on? But it felt cathartic to say it out loud, to try to explain how they’d thought Jesus of Nazareth was going to be the one to save Israel, but that he’d been crucified and now they couldn’t find the body. And to top it all, some of the women were claiming he was alive. And then it was the stranger’s turn to explain. He talked them through the Old Testament, showing them that Jesus was a fulfilment of the prophecies and helping them to find meaning in the events that seemed meaningless. It took a while. When they neared home, they invited the stranger in. And it was there that their guest revealed who he was. Around the dinner table – such an ordinary, everyday setting. And then he was gone. Despite the fact it was now evening, and the journey would be dangerous, they couldn’t help but make their way back to Jerusalem – another 7 miles, but the excitement carried them along. They had to share the good news that Jesus really was alive.
 
So why didn’t the disciples on the road recognise Jesus when he first drew alongside them? The gradual revelation allowed them to reflect on Scripture and learn about trusting God’s promises – they’d been told what would happen, but they didn’t believe it. They had preconceived ideas and when things didn’t go to plan (or so they thought), they dismissed it as failure, as misplaced hope and trust. And they didn’t take the women seriously. Perhaps before we lay too much criticism on them, we should consider our own lack of faith at times.
 
Jesus walked alongside them in their sadness, inviting them to tell their story, to share their hurts. If they’d demonstrated a bit more patience, stayed in Jerusalem a bit longer, they’d have encountered the risen Christ, but Jesus pursued them and came to them where they were, with encouragement in their time of disillusionment. He met them in the ordinary and everyday. And as a result, their hearts were changed and they were compelled to take action – to go and tell others.
 
The disciples had been crushed by the horror of events happening in the world around them, and we may feel equally overwhelmed. But Jesus walks alongside us in our darkest hours, just as he joined Cleopas and his companion on that road. His teachings and his compassion remain the same. Tell him your story, share your hurts. And let him transform your heart and stir you to action.

Deborah Packham