Matters of the Heart-Our Road to Emmaus – Steve Orr

Our Road to Emmaus:

Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures? (Luke 24:32 ESV)

I love how this verse captures and sums up the disciples curious encounter with the Teacher. Before this passage, Luke relates similar encounters where the Teacher appears and disappears with other disciples one at a time. But when they share their encounters with fellow disciples there is doubt “because their words seemed to them like nonsense,” (verse 11).

These encounters start with Jesus appearing at the tomb. Then, seven miles away, there is quite the intrigue with this encounter on the road:

They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

“What things?” he asked. (verses 14-19)

What things?!

I love this part. Jesus is toying with them. First, He cloaks Himself behind some kind of masking device. Then He Who is Love incarnate playfully woos them with banter like lovers flirting to pique desire, like the teasing and tickling that leads to passion and yearning. For me, it’s like the words of a hit song, “I want you to want me,” But it’s not a Cheap Trick.

In answer to Jesus’ what-things-question they respond:

“About Jesus of Nazareth, you clueless dummy. He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed, before God and all the people. But He was a threat to the religious establishment, so they conspired against Him and had Him crucified.” Looking down, they mutter, “We had hoped that he would redeem our nation. Since then, three days have passed, and some of our women amazed us claiming to have seen him at the tomb early this morning. This, even though they could not find his body. They also told us about seeing angels, who said he was alive.” (verses 19-23 paraphrased)

The Master Fisherman has baited his rod with a choice fly to entice His disciples…

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

And now He readies to set the hook…

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

There must have been something about the manner in which Jesus broke the bread. Maybe He broke it neatly and methodically. Maybe He winced with the symbolic breaking of His body.

Jesus says His sheep recognize His voice. Perhaps these two travelers couldn’t quite put their finger on it, but it was this recognition that made their hearts burn with a desire to know more.

The hook had been set! All that is left is to reel them in. That, too, is quite the drama.

More on that in the next edition of “Matters of the Heart.”

I love fishing. I hope the bait was tasty.

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Steve Orr writes to us from Montana. After working in the mecca of technology, Steve traded the rat race of Silicon Valley for the adventures of High Tech in Big Sky Country. Steve has an MBA with experience in accounting, finance, technology, and management. He occasionally writes a little software code, but mostly he likes writing about Matters of the Heart.

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