New Life ...

Thursday, April 13, 2017. Each year Christianity is celebrating Easter. It is the most important Christian celebration - among Christmas and Pentacost. It is about the death and resurrection of Jesus. We might think that the resurrection is a nice story. But read the following text, which reflects the thoughts and frustration of the disciples, who thought that Jesus was dead.

On the road …

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles1 from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” (from Luke24)

God is there already …

The story is telling us a lot. It is describing the situation of most of us today - we are on our road to whatever human goal we might have. And we are frustrated about God not doing what we would like him to do. We live on the background of disappointments and frustration - and we continue our human path.

Yet, on this path there is a companion. We do not recognize him. He is there already. Jesus is on the road with his disciples.

There is of course much more here. Jesus calls the disciples “foolish”. Their heart is so slow to believe. They need help, support, … they need this image of the wine and the bread. These disciples here return to Jerusalem - a symbol of God's community, of his church. They go back to faith. They go back to community with the other believers. They go back to building up the church. That is where God wants us to be, where ever we are on this planet! (Roland Potthast) ... more texts