COMMUNING WITH THE KING

“Did not our heart burn within us while HE TALKED WITH US on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” – Luke 24:32

One unique quality of Christianity is the thrill of COMMUNING WITH THE KING: “And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He TALKED WITH US on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Lk.24:32). In this Scripture text, the Lord Jesus modelled COMMUNION as WALKING, TALKING and DINING with THE KING! Life’s spiritual journey doesn’t always have to be spectacular. We can see God’s hand in the ordinary events of life. Indeed, trying times are when we learn and grow most, and have the utmost opportunity to encounter the risen King, if we have eyes to see.

Prior to His death and resurrect ion, Jesus travelled across Judah, inviting the people of Israel into His kingdom, promising abundant life. His followers therefore expected a Messiah-king who would restore prosperity and liberty to Israel. But on one fateful Friday, as the sun fell behind the horizon, the Son of God hung on a Roman cross just outside the city walls. As the sun rose on Sunday morning, two of Jesus’ disciples, disillusioned and resolving to leave their foolish dreams in Jerusalem, began the seven-mile walk to Emmaus even as rumours of resurrection circulated among the ranks of His disciples (v.13).

The two bantered ideas with great emotion in a shared search for answers (vv.14-16). They desperately wanted to know why their hopes had crashed. Then, “Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him…” (vv. 15b-17). Their conversation reveals that these two did not believe Jesus had risen from the dead (vv.17-18). Like many today who only nominally believe in Christ, these disciples had three faulty perspectives. First, they lacked a spiritual dimension and had only a carnal understanding of events. Second, their own agenda for the restoration of Israel’s material power and prosperity warped their expectations. Third, they failed to acknowledge the resurrection (vv.19-24). That’s why rather than walking toward Jerusalem to see the risen Lord, they were walking away.

Jesus broke His silence with a reproof of their unbelief (v.25), a question (v.26), and an exposition (v.27). He then reviewed Israel’s history from the Exodus to His resurrection: “expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (v.27). In keeping with ancient Near Eastern rules of hospitality, the two followers then invited the “stranger” to stay the night. Jesus accepted their offer, but maintained His cover in order to complete the lesson He had begun teaching them.

The disciples had been staring into the face of the risen King Jesus, yet they could not ‘see’ Him until they buried their faulty expectations. Meditating on the Scriptures at the Communion Table opened their eyes to the reality and implications of the resurrection: “Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him” (v.31a). They recognised and fully comprehended Him in all His significance as the Messiah, Son of God, and their risen Lord! Once their eyes were open, Jesus suddenly vanished from their midst. Now, their new, resurrected hope carried them back to Jerusalem to bear the good news to others (vv.33-35).

Like the two despondent disciples on the road to Emmaus, we, too, are pilgrims on life’s journey, who despair of life’s circumstances from time to time. But, every trial is an opportunity for God to open our eyes to discover what God wants us to see. We make this possible by inviting the Lord into our lives and homes, surrendering our expectations, seeking His perspective from the Scriptures, and trusting His timing. Spiritual maturity rarely occurs instantaneously. Growth usually requires a journey, and journeys take time. We’ll find God to be faithful as we commit to Walking, Talking, and Communing with the King! Like the two on the road to Emmaus, we do not travel alone. God is with us. Are we communing with Him?