The Burning Desire

Luke 24.25-35

Have you ever had all that you dreamt dashed to pieces? Have you reflected at some point and see nothing but rubbish laying there in the midst of your life? For a nation, such has happened. Oh there were mixed emotions, mind you. The leaders of the nation didn’t put much stock into it. Never did. Probably because they were a tad bit jealous. You see, there was a dream for a nation, and as the leaders reckoned, they weren’t invited. At every turn, at every stretch, the dreamer seemed to make it clear that there was no future, at least for the leaders.

But the people of the nation… that is a different horse altogether. You see, people don’t tend to use the same lenses that the leaders tend to use. Leaders, politicians and the sort, they see the world through green lenses. Pockets are deep, people are happy to lend a hand. Same picture from the other side of the dais looks more like oppressive tyrants taking what little is left and giving it to those who don’t need it. And the local leaders, the ones who should be teaching them, leading them in the ways of God? They look more like puppets in a sick show.

So there is a breath of fresh air. Sure, he does things a might different than one would normally expect. But he’s open about not trusting the rulers, the teachers, the traditions. He seems to be bringing a different brand of patriotism. Perhaps this guy will lead us in a way that is unexpected. For 3 years, this man has captured the imaginations, hopes and dreams of an entire nation, and yet all without rousing empire’s suspicion. Even as he came to celebrate the week of Passover in Jerusalem, surely Rome would have noticed a parade that was a day long, maybe 6 mile trek from the city gates to the Temple.

Can you imagine what must be going through the minds of the pair of followers as they walked down to Emmaus? (Oh they weren’t too far, about a round trip to the EZ Mart from here.) From the parade, to the preparation of the feast, to taking swords to a time of prayer, they must have been ever looking for the promised kingdom. Instead, all they saw were missed moments. Even as Peter swung a sword at the high priest catching only a servant’s ear, but again, Peter was only a fisherman. His tool isn’t the sword. His is the net. But what must have stung the most at that moment, one of their own leading a detachment of soldiers, all the leaders of the Temple. Judas gives Jesus a kiss.

From there, they would themselves flee. Later, after mustering courage, these two, Simon and perhaps Matthias (who doesn’t really matter), would make their way to the temple court. On the way, perhaps they see Peter running, weeping, knowing he failed in his boast of being constant at Jesus’ side. And then Jesus, the final opportunity missed, dies on that cross. There was a demonic unnaturalness to the sky, maybe of dark victory. The sun wasn’t shining, and it wasn’t cloudy. It was like darkness had overcome the light. (Now  light a candle in a dark room and watch the darkness flee.) Not this time. Darkness at noon day bright. Has that ever happened before?

But to their hearts, that was only the beginning. Now, couple of days later, the women rush in, waking everyone saying that Jesus is alive. The women had seen him! After that massive beating, after that spear sinking so deep into Jesus’ body, and they are saying he’s alive?! Are they sick? If he’s alive, then why haven’t THEY seen him?

Jerusalem is right now too much to handle. They need to leave, they need to recoup. And to make matters worse, they fall in with an obliviot. After the headlines, how can anyone coming from Jerusalem NOT know what happened? So they give him the week’s events in a nutshell.

And then came the rebuke! Oh they were the ones on the receiving end. Their faith is questioned. Their knowledge is questioned. Apparently they didn’t know the Bible as well as they had thought. But this visitor gave them a complete walk-through of how Jesus did in fact redeem Israel, and not just Israel, but the whole of the world, for those who would but accept.

After the history lesson, these men then strongly encourage the visitor to join them for the evening meal, to spend the night. It is the least one does for a teacher, give him room and board. So he decides to join them for supper. Then, as he had but not a few night nights before, he blesses the meal, breaks the bread and the men now see. But as they realize that they were in the very presence of Jesus, the very presence of Jesus leaves them to ponder their walk from Jerusalem.

They realized that from the moment Jesus had joined them on the road, hearing the Gospel, hearing the Word of God, their hearts were burning. But burning with what? Was it a burning from being in the presence of the glorified savior? Was it creating a desire to know more of God’s Word? One desire I do know was to tell others, to testify of His wondrous works, that Jesus truly is alive. As soon as they discussed this, leaving their meals barely touched, if at all, they rush back to Jerusalem, to offer the same news that hours earlier, the women of the group had shared. Yes, brothers, it’s true! Jesus is alive!

Their nightmare was over! A person tends to keep the last image of a loved one. For the followers that Friday, it was a beaten, bloody mess of a man, hair pulled out by the flesh, back side looking like burger meat, what wasn’t shredded was definitely bruised and swollen. That’s the Jesus they remember. That’s not the Jesus they met.

Funny today, sad really, that we forget this story, Simon and someone else walking to Emmaus. Their dreams were dashed. But after seeing Jesus, no their dreams weren’t resurrected. Their dreams were changed. Their dreams became the message of hope. They went to those they were closest with, the rest of the 11 and the closest followers of Jesus. How many were together when they arrived? It really doesn’t matter. It matters that this great day they wanted to share the biggest news with those they cared for, those they loved. For some, they were friends, for others, there was blood relationship. But thanks to the opening of the tomb, they all became family by the Blood of the Lamb.

How do we view this story today? When we read the Word of God, when we open the Bible, do we find ourselves just reading to read it, to say that yes, we’ve done it, or do we find ourselves reading, losing track of time, wanting to know more, to see a little more? Simon, the Zealot, said his heart burned the moment Jesus began speaking to them.

Their desires increased all the more as they saw Jesus break the bread. How often do we allow ourselves to be moved by the ceremony of breaking bread, of communing with one another, communing with God to be our motivation? It should motivate us not only to love God for forgiving us, but also to tell others the great news.

Now there are some who’d say, but we don’t have Jesus breaking into our timelines today. Jesus did tell Thomas that Thomas’ belief was based on sight, but blessed are they that take it on faith. Consider this now… there is more written testimony to the validity of Jesus’ life, aside from the Bible and Christian writers, than there are of George Washington being our first president. No one has moved so much in this world as to even dividing time, before and after, or more grammatically correct: before and now during.

Let the passion that filled Simon that day be your passion today. As for your dreams that have been shattered, or just set aside, and your life that is in a mess? There is hope! No, Jesus will not necessarily save you from the mess, but he will see you through the mess. Your dreams, he may have new ones for you, as Simon discovered he had, as the rest would have in a matter of a couple of hours, in several weeks. God promises that He will work all things to Good for those who love him and are clothed in him. What a promise, all stemming from this Great Day!

Have you heard? The tomb was found empty. Jesus is alive! Jesus lives! Amen?

Amen!