Walk With A Stranger

Cleopas and one of the other disciples were making the 6-mile trek from Jerusalem to Emmaus on the afternoon of Jesus' resurrection.   They were consumed in conversation, likely focusing on what Jesus' death would mean for their small community of followers. They were joined by a stranger who had seemingly avoided all the commotion surrounding Jesus' crucifixion three days earlier and his recent resurrection.  The disciples welcomed the stranger to their conversation, and the stranger began interpreting all the scriptures, prophesying the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.   The stranger completed the trip to Emmaus with the disciples, but intended to continue his journey from there.  The disciples were fascinated by him and exclaimed, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." The stranger agreed, and as he broke the bread that evening, the disciples recognized him as Jesus for the first time.  And He immediately disappeared.

I have been thinking about how the disciples' walk with Jesus that day compares to my own.  Sometimes, I am so overwhelmed by what is going on in the world, with my family and friends or in my work, that I don't even recognize Jesus when He is standing right beside me.  Spending time reading about Him, or listening to stories about Him, can help me move in the right direction, but He more completely reveals Himself to me only when I look into His face, ask Him to "stay with me," and acknowledge that His body was broken for me.  While I may not able to look into the physical face of Jesus as those two disciples did, His presence is completely available to me and all who seek Him.