When Jesus Comes Along Luke 24:13-35

“Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight” (Lk. 24:31, NASB).

During the last two months, beginning in February 2020, our country has been consumed with the devastating effects of COVID-19, the coronavirus pandemic. The majority of the local and national newscasts are references to the effects of this deadly virus. We are updated on the number of people affected. We are informed about the problems that doctors, nurses, and first responders are encountering because of limited resources and supplies that are needed so that they can safely and effectively treat those affected by the disease.

As the scientists and healthcare experts learn more about this disease they inform us of how we should behave so that we do not affect others, and other people do not affect us. This only increases uncertainty and mistrust. In situations like this there is the possibility that we will be too consumed with the bad news that we often miss the good news. I know that this is true because today is the Wednesday before Easter, and I have been thinking about the pandemic so much that I have not been thinking much about Easter. This article reminds us that when Jesus comes alongside of us, He gives us a new perspective of the situation. Easter reminds us that Jesus gives us a renewed hope when we are experiencing our darkest days.

It is Sunday afternoon. Two friends are walking along the road home. It is a sad day in their lives. A week ago they had gone to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover Feast. The feast is celebrated because it marks the day that God delivered their people from bondage in Egypt over a thousand years before. While in Jerusalem Jesus, the prophet and teacher from Galilee comes to the city. Everything is well with them. They see Jesus, and they hear His teaching. They believe in Jesus and they have hope that Jesus will redeem Israel (Lk. 24:21). They hope that Jesus will deliver them from the rule of Rome and restore to Israel the glory she had when David and Solomon were kings in Israel. It is an exciting time until things take a turn for the worst.

Jesus is a great teacher. He meets the needs of people and He offers hope for better days. However, there are those that do not believe in Jesus and they do not approve of the works that He does. They have been plotting for a long time to get rid of this menace named Jesus. His thoughts are not their thoughts, and His ways are not their ways. The religious leaders find Jesus to be a hindrance to their agendas. The Pharisees are more concerned about law than people. The Sadducees want to protect their control over the temple and the religious practices that take place in it. Jesus, on the other hand is concerned about the life of the people. He breaks laws and His teaching does not agree with the religion of the Sadducees. Jesus has to be stopped. He must be gotten rid of, and they receive help from an unsuspecting source.

Judas Iscariot is one of the twelve disciples that Jesus selects to be an apostle. They travel with Him, and He trains them to continue the work of spreading the Gospel when He returns to His Father in heaven. Judas meets with Jesus’ enemies, and they agree to a plan in which Judas will betray Jesus. Jesus is unjustly tried by the religious leaders. They deliver Jesus to Pilate the Roman governor who executes Jesus by crucifixion on the cross. (24:19-24).

Now, these two disciples are on their way home. It is a dark day in their lives. The worst thing that could happen has taken place. Their hope is gone. Their faith is challenged. They are on their way home. They will shut themselves in their home. They will live in isolation just as most people that had believed in Jesus will do. They will distance themselves from others because it is dangerous to be seen in public. The Eleven are in hiding because they are afraid of what will happen to them if they are seen by the authorities (v. 33).

As these two men walk along the road a stranger comes along. The stranger hear them talking. They should have known who this stranger is, “but their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him” (v. 16). As the stranger gets near them He hears them talking. “And he said to them, ‘What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking” (v. 17)? The disciples express that their hope is gone (v.21). Jesus is dead and they have not seen any evidence to dispute this reality.

As we experience these days of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, Jesus wants to know what we are talking to each other about. Are we speaking words of despair and hopelessness? Have we given up thinking that God is dead? Have we forgotten about the promises of God and the words of Jesus? All of us must ask ourselves what this crisis means to us; especially in terms of our faith and hope in Jesus Christ. Now that Jesus knows their story He begins to explain the events that have been taking place.

Jesus reminds these disciples that God is a promise keeping God. He does not need to test and collect data so that He can know what the best thing to do is. God does not need to wait on the results of any test. God speaks into existence what He wants to accomplish. His word will not come back to Him without accomplishing what it is purposed to accomplish. God is not seeking information from any source. Instead the Lord calls prophets to speak to people. The prophet uses human language to speak that which is on the mind of God.

So, Jesus says to the two disciples, “‘O foolish men and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Have we taken the words of the prophets to heart? The psalmist says that he keeps his way pure by living according to the Word of God; keeping His commandments (Ps. 119:9-10). He says “Your word I have treasured in my heart that I may not sin against You” (v. 11, NASB).

Jesus reminds these disciples that everything that happens is necessary because they bring to pass that which the prophets have spoken. The religious leaders and the Roman officials do that which the Lord has determined them to do. ‘”Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory’” (v. 26)? “Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in the Scriptures” (v. 27, NASB). We should not be surprised or overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sorrows, trials and tribulations exist in the world as they are spoken about in the Scriptures. The Preacher tells us that there is nothing new under the sun. “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven” (Eccl. 3:1, NASB).

The disciples invite Jesus to their home for dinner and rest for the night. Jesus breaks bread and the disciples’ eyes are open and they recognize Jesus. Now they have a new perspective of the things that have taken place. “They said to one another, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us’” (Lk. 24:32). The disciples immediately return to Jerusalem and find the eleven meeting together. They tell what has taken place. Jesus has come alongside of them. He explains to them the Scriptures concerning the events that they have witnessed. They are changed because Jesus has come alongside them. Now, they have good news. What seemed like the darkest day of their lives is now seen as a day of sunshine. When Jesus comes alongside us our hope is renewed. Our faith is made stronger.

In the midst of crisis we can invite Jesus to come alongside us. We can read the Scriptures. We can pray; have a little talk with Him and walk with Him. Jesus makes everything alright.