The Stranger on the Road

In Luke chapter 24 we read about two disciples, one is identified by name and one is not. They were walking the Emmaus Road toward Jerusalem when suddenly they were joined by a stranger Who turned out to be non-other than the LORD Himself. At the time HE was hidden from them. They were discouraged that Christ had been crucified outside the city. HE asked why they were sad. Astonished they thought surely this man must be from another city! Certainly all of Israel knew that the Man Who all thought to be their long awaited Messiah had been murdered be the nations rulers! As they walked they explained the events of the past few days. Interrupting them HE explained from the Scriptures why Christ must suffer and die by the hands of wicked men.  Arriving in their home village they invited the stranger to stay with them for the evening. These two men were soon to be in for the shock of their lives! When the disciples sat with the stranger to break bread suddenly their eyes were opened, they recognized HIM, then just as suddenly the stranger vanished from their eyes. They looked at each other in bewilderment and said, "Didn't our hearts burn within us as HE talked with us on the road and as HE opened the Scriptures to us?" Then they arose and spread the word to the rest of the disciples.

There are a few things we should take notice of here that applies to us all at some point. First, these men were on the road to Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the Holy City. It is where the Temple was, where the Ark remained, where GOD "dwelt". All of us have at some point been on our way to a Divine meeting with GOD. We have either been there, or we are heading there. Second, These men had questions about Christ and HIS Cross. All of us have had questions about Christ and HIS sufferings. Who was this Man Jesus Christ? What was the meaning of HIS Cross, HIS suffering? HIS death? Thirdly, they were met by the LORD Himself, but they didn't recognize HIM. When our hearts are drawn away in a desire to know the LORD HE shows up! Like these disciples, we often do not instantly recognize HIM our HIS work in our lives, but we realize that our hearts begin to burn with a strange fire. Finally it is when we invite this "Stranger" into our lives to dwell with us and to fellowship with us, in-spite of not  fully knowing HIM or understanding HIM, that HE reveals Himself to us as our personal LORD and Savior. Do you know the LORD Jesus Christ? Don't wait until you "Figure it all out". The journey of knowing Christ doesn't even begin until we invite HIM in to dwell with