Countless homes and churches have a particular painting hanging
on their walls. It is a rendering of the
Emmaus disciples walking with Jesus. There
is nothing particularly impressive about the painting. It is just a simple picture scene of two men
walking with Jesus. But that is
precisely why it is a scene to which so many Christians have cast their gaze as
they ponder our Lord’s abiding presence.
On that
first Easter, Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, seven
miles from Jerusalem. They didn’t
realize that it was Jesus so they preceded to tell him about the troubling
events of the previous days. They had
hope that He was the promised Messiah, but the chief priests and rulers had
given him over to death. Then some of
the women came reporting that they had not found his body, but instead had seen
a vision of angels who told them that He was alive. But the disciples themselves had not yet seen
the Lord. So these two men walked to
Emmaus in somber grief.
The
grief word that describes Jesus’ action means to “travel or journey together.” It is a fitting and comforting Word that
describes the action of the risen Christ!
This is what Jesus promises at the end of Matthew’s Gospel when He
assures His disciples that He will be with them always. It is also true for us as Christ is present
for us in His Word and Sacrament, as He dwells within us through faith
(Colossians 1:27; Galatians 2:20). It is
a comforting resurrection account as Christ journeyed with disciples saddled
with troubled hearts and opened for them the Scriptures by teaching them how
the Old Testament Law and Prophets all pointed to Him. The Emmaus disciples are so moved by the
encounter that they rush the seven miles back to Jerusalem to tell Peter and
the rest of the disciples the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection.
Lutheran
reformers Philip Melanchthon and Nicholas Selnecker used this text as the basis
for the hymn, “Lord Jesus Christ, with Us Abide” (Lutheran Service Book #585). The first verse, by Melanchthon and the last
verse, by Selnecker:
Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide
For round us falls the eventide
O let Your Word, that saving
light,
Shine forth into the night.
Stay with us, Lord, and keep us
true;
Preserve our faith our whole
life through –
Your Word alone our heart’s
defense,
The Church’s glorious
confidence.
As the
Easter day draws to a close, may you be comforted with the assurance that Christ
has risen again from the grave just as He said.
May you also be assured of His abiding presence with you throughout your
journey. Even in the valley of the
shadow of death you need fear no foe or evil because Christ is with you. His presence and promises comfort you for all
the days and roads ahead.
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