The Walk to Emmaus

a sermon by Rev. Michael Gladish

Dawson Creek, BC, April 15th, 2007

"Now it came to pass, as He reclined at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight" (Luke 24:30-31).

The story of the two disciples walking to Emmaus is one of the most striking of the Lord's appearances on the day of His resurrection. It is a beautiful story, full of obvious symbolism and deep meaning for our spiritual lives today. And so, just as the disciples walked then with the Lord we are going to walk through this story today and reflect on its powerful message.

We are going to look at particular correspondences in the reading, and see a number of connections with other stories in the Word, but most of all we are going to consider specifically how the Lord was know to His disciples, and so how He is known to US, today.

And so we begin with the two disciples traveling (walking) on Easter Sunday from Jerusalem to a village called Emmaus. We do not know the meaning of the name, Emmaus, but we know that a village represents what is relatively external in our spiritual lives, since it is out in the country, beyond the larger cities that represent the principal doctrines or teachings of the church. Jerusalem in particular was the centre of the Jewish religion and culture, and so represented all the main ideas and affections associated with that religion. The two disciples in the story clearly were leaving all this behind them as they reasoned together in their disappointment and fear about the crucifixion of their Messiah. Indeed, they couldn't even call Him their Messiah anymore, but just "a Man, a Prophet, mighty in word and deed...."

Again, we know from our doctrines that the Lord's disciples represent the truths of faith in our own lives, and the number, two, signifies conjunction, thus the conjunction of what is true and good in matters of faith. We can only imagine how confused and sad their conversation was as they reasoned together about all that they had seen over the weekend.

Even the fact that there were going to a village about 7 miles from Jerusalem - actually 60 furlongs, or stadia in the original Greek - is loaded with meaning, as the number, 60, can be factored down to 6 and 10, which numbers suggest the labour of temptation over the "remnants" of good and truth they had from the Lord's ministry among them.

And their conversation, or talk, is expressed by a Greek word that really means reasoning, or even disputing. Clearly they were trying to work out in their minds what had happened, and how they could understand it, come to terms with it. And isn't this exactly what we do when we are faced with some tragic turn of events? Maybe a friend or family member dies or gets terribly sick; maybe we suffer some awful tragedy ourselves, or begin to doubt our own faith in the Lord: and we are inclined to turn away from our historical convictions, descending from our spiritual ideals into external, natural concerns, reasoning, even arguing about the Lord and His providence.

But if the reasoning is at least hopeful, genuinely seeking answers and not just being cynical, an amazing thing can happen: Jesus Himself may draw near us and join the conversation.

Now the name, Jesus, particularly represents the Divine love, and it stands for the saving power of that love in our lives. We may not "get it;" indeed, we may have no idea how this love is working in our lives but if our seeking for answers is genuine it will appear to us and comfort us and begin to inform us in a way that truth alone cannot do. But clarity does not come in a moment. There is a process involved, represented by the walking, the talking and the Lord's explanations. Our spiritual growth and progress is achieved through learning and understanding, not to mention practicing what we learn.

Note the Lord's question: "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" -- and the disciples' question in reply: "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there...?"

Throughout the Word we read about the Lord asking people questions when it is very clear that He already knows the answers. Think of Him in the garden of Eden asking Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" - Or in Canaan asking Abraham why Sarah laughed. - Or in the Gospels asking "Who touched Me?" or "What do you want?" or "Have you not known Me, Philip?" OF COURSE He already knows the answers, but He asks to make us think, and often to give us the opportunity to repent and change our ways. Our doctrines tell us that even in heaven when something definite is learned, it is often followed by something that raises questions or causes doubt so that the person thinking about it will not be compelled by external means to believe anything but can think about it and consider it and compel himself to believe it or not.

But the disciples' question was prophetic, for He HAD BEEN a stranger in Jerusalem! -- or rather, Jerusalem had become a stranger to Him. Yes, they had the Word; they knew the great truths of religion, but they had "made the Word of no effect through their traditions." The truth had been completely separated from the good of charity and so when Goodness Itself came to them in person they did not know Him; indeed they despised Him and rejected Him.

Remember how He said, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you will not come to Me that you may have life" (John 5:39-40). "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.... and this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil" (John 3:17,19).

So the Lord asked again, "What things?" "What are you talking about?" And they told Him. (Here, read verses 19-24.) Notice they referred to Him as "Jesus, a Man, a Prophet, mighty in word and deed," unwittingly signifying His Divine love, wisdom and power, which is what these names mean in their spiritual sense. In contrast they referred to the chief priests and rulers of Jerusalem, signifying the perverted loves and doctrines in the church at the time, which rejected Him. "But we were hoping...." signifies the remnant within each one of us, that innocent and conscientious part of us that longs for true love and wisdom through all our temptations.

"And besides all this, today is the third day..." Yes, come to think of it, He did say He would rise again on the third day... But where is He? What happened?

"And certain women of our company astonished us with their story...." Women in the Word represent our affections (as distinct from the thoughts of our understanding). And it is no accident that THEY are the first to see the angels, and even the Lord Himself. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." It is the WILL that takes us to the Lord, the understanding only comes along after in support.

So, anyway, after listening a long time the Lord finally speaks: "O fools, and slow of heart to believe. Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?" Fools! Perhaps it is not as harsh as it sounds, but it was a stern rebuke. "Didn't He TELL you that all this would happen, and that He would rise again on the third day? Didn't He tell you this repeatedly in the weeks before the crucifixion?"

But we are slow. The understanding labours long and hard to see the truth -- about ourselves and about the Lord. And this labour is important, lest we be compelled, or lest we be changed so quickly that we lose our identity, our sense of self. So, "beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."

NOTE, this is the teaching of the Writings, and the New Church! Just as the Lord opened up the Scriptures for those first disciples, so He opens them up for us today -- and we still don't get it! Why not? - Because we're not ready? - Because we don't want to? - Because we don't care enough to stay with it, despite our empty feelings and confusion?

"And as they drew near the village... He indicated that He would have gone farther." This is clearly not just a reference to distance, it's an obvious metaphor: He would have told them even more! It was as He had said before, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now" (John 16:12). And so they said to Him "Abide with us, for it is near evening, and the day is far spent." In other words, "Slow down, take it easy; we can't follow any more, we can't take it all in. Accommodate. Stay with us - don't get ahead of us. Our understanding is limited, and things are becoming obscure."

"And He went in to stay with them." What a marvellous image! And how deeply significant of the Lord's infinite patience and Divine providence. "He went in to stay with them."

"And it came to pass, as He reclined at the table with them that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight" (Luke 24:30-31).

To walk, in the Word, is to think from intention and involves a change of state. To stand still (or steadfast) is to maintain an intention from the will. But to sit or recline is to live according to that will; it is to rest content in the decisions you have made. So in the story, having walked and talked, reasoned and discussed, thought, reflected, and most of all heard the Lord's profound explanations of everything as far as they could understand, the disciples sat down to rest and eat with the Lord, still - incredibly - not knowing who He was until He took bread, and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. And "then their eyes were opened, and they knew Him."

Think of it! We know that the sense of smell is one of the strongest triggers of human memory, and with the sight and sound and closeness of the Lord throughout that day these men were now undoubtedly confronted with the powerful recollection of all the many times the Lord had broken bread with them before the crucifixion: the feeding of the 5,000, the dinners, the feasts, and all His parables involving bread or meals - even His prayer with its "daily bread." But most powerful of all must have been the memory of that last Passover meal just a few days before, where He had done the same thing: blessing and breaking the bread and offering it to them all saying, "Take, eat, this is My body." "This do in remembrance of Me."

Now, here He was again, just as before only more wonderfully than ever. They must have been absolutely amazed. But here's the main thing: - bread represents the goodness of the Lord's love. They recognized Him in the goodness of His love! - Not only in the teaching; not only in the explanations of the Scripture; not only in the reasoning with which they had begun the day, but in the humble, quiet sharing of the bread of life, the goodness of love that can unite all people with the Lord and with one another.

Truth and reasoning and understanding are all means to an end. They are important. They are necessary. They are part of the process we must go through to build the foundation in our minds for the house of our faith. But faith is not just understanding, it is the acknowledgment of truth from affection because it is true; and we see that it is true when we see the goodness within it, which also happens when we apply that truth to our lives, acting on it with sincere commitment. THEN when we reflect we see that everything in our experience confirms it, even the most challenging events of our lives.

But why did the Lord then "vanish from their sight"? You know, when you labour for a long time to get some concept and you finally get it you have achieved your goal. You no longer need to look back, to second-guess yourself, to live in the understanding. Now you are free. You can live with confidence from the heart. It's not that you forget everything you have learned but in this case it was no longer necessary for the disciples to see the Lord in a natural body because they could see Him everywhere - and especially in the Scriptures in the whole history of Israel, and in their own lives as they had experienced the Lord's love and wisdom daily for three years.

And so it is for us. When from understanding we see the goodness in the truth of the Word we see the Lord and feel His presence everywhere. He is then truly glorified, not only in Himself but in our own hearts and minds, and in our lives.

Thus the disciples "said to one another, 'Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures for us?' So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together," and they told them everything that had happened. And then again Jesus appeared in the midst of them, saying "Peace be to you," reassuring them and -- again -- eating with them: celebrating the goodness and the truth of His life with them.

Can we do this, too? Absolutely. Every time we consider the real meaning and impact of the Lord's life we can be impressed anew with the infinite power of His love and wisdom, and we can rejoice together with Him in the assurance of eternal life. For this is why He came: not to extend our wealth, influence or power in this world, but to expose the vanity of selfishness and superficiality, in fact to "overcome the world" and restore our freedom to choose a heavenly life. Remember, the angel told Joseph he should call the baby "Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). And so He has, and so He will if we commit to learn from Him and follow Him, and break the bread of heaven with Him in the goodness of His love.

Amen.

Lessons: John 20: 8-18

Children's talk on seeing (knowing) the Lord

Luke 24: 13-43

Arcana Caelestia 9411: selections on seeing the Lord