The Savior is in the House

The Road to Emmaus in Luke 24 has caught my attention. The entire chapter is worth reading. The events immediately follow the crucifixion of Jesus. With Easter approaching it is not unusual that I would be drawn to these events, but there seems to be a parallel message that comes with this story that shows how Jesus walks and talks with us, especially in distraught and challenging times.

Many of us have experienced sudden unexpected events as we have moved into this New Era, and what has become visible before us has somehow evolved as the basis of truth. When we are in the middle of such events, it becomes difficult to see these moments through the eyes of Christ. Disappointments, loss, setbacks, and the like are temporary areas of distress and disillusionment. The question becomes, “How are we framing this situation?” Are we framing it with the reality of the moment, are do we default to the truth of the Word of God and His promises?

The Emmaus Road chapter of the Bible is an example of how Jesus is never controlled or hindered by what happens in the world. Jesus is always at work on our behalf, and if He has promised something, He will fulfill it. Guaranteed. As two disciples walked the Emmaus Road mulling over the disappointments of the outcome they were experiencing, they had no idea that Jesus had already risen and was heading their way.

• No matter how disappointing and frustrating the circumstances are, Jesus is already heading your direction to reveal Himself and speak with you.

Verse 15 says, “So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.” Problem one: when confronted with disappointments, the last thing to hang on to is reason. Reason is blinding. It will always look for an answer. The Spirit of God is the answer. These two can become so separated by our perceptions that reason is empowered to become our reality. Reason will always raise more questions, and it will corner us into places of isolation. Why? Because there are no answers to many of these issues except to put your hand in the hand of Jesus. When we position ourselves with the King and listen to His voice, life will return…promises will be resurrected.

• Reframing our conversations with the Lord involves taking the picture of what happened and placing the frame of His promises and the declarations of His Word around it. The frame becomes the object of beauty…not the picture. The picture will emanate from the beautiful authority of His truth that surrounds it.

Jesus listened. He walked with them. But their eyes were restrained, so they did not know Him. This wasn’t some kind of cruel test or a prank of any kind. Jesus listened and asked questions. What kind of conversation is this…(17)? Ought not the Christ to have suffered…(26)? Jesus even said to them in verse 25, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!”

• It wasn’t until Jesus began to expound to them in all of scripture the things concerning Himself, and He sat down at the table and He took the bread, broke it, and blessed it, giving it to them that their eyes were opened. Get ready for a revelation of Jesus!

Finally, I found it interesting that as soon as Jesus revealed Himself to them, He vanished from their “sight” (31). Why would He do that? It just got interesting and He left. He did the same thing in Judges 6 when He appeared to Gideon. After the Lord released the fire that consumed the sacrifice prepared for Him, He departed…but He didn’t leave. From that point on, He and Gideon had conversations. The disciples on the Emmaus Road, and Gideon releasing his sacrifice to the Lord, both reveals that once the Lord shows Himself to us, He becomes a resident of our heart that operates within us. The conversations become constant and enriching. It is here we have found a new place of abiding in Him…a place where communication is ongoing and liberating.

Be at peace today knowing that Jesus is in your circumstances, and His voice is speaking. He is teaching how to recognize His voice in these areas of challenge as a voice of encouragement, promise, and direction. Reach out. Have conversation with Him. He is always talking and speaking, but He wants to listen to your heart. New dimensions of communication with Him are available.