Inspirational Devotional from the Road to Emmaus

Walking on the biblical road to Emmaus along the same route Jesus probably strolled with his two followers late on resurrection Sunday afternoon two thousand years ago clarified the setting of the New Testament story for me. Curb stones made from limestone are about all that is left of this small stretch of Roman road, nestled in a narrow, ancient water-system channel. The old road branches off Yehiel M. Shtienberg Street between the towns of Beit Zayet and Jerusalem and passes through the western boundary of the Jerusalem Forest. The Har Menvhot Jerusalem cemetery fills the skyline at the top of the ridge.

Today's Roman road drops down from Jerusalem toward a town called Emmaus in Hebrew, and Motza in Greek. What's left of the road to Emmaus seems more like a stream bed than a highway, with upturned stones and rubble sprawled across its path from the modern city above. In Jesus' day the road to Emmaus would have been about twelve feet wide-big enough for traffic to flow in both directions between the raised stone curbing of individual stones packed as closely as possible.

On that fateful Sunday two thousand years ago, Cleopas and his companion started the seven-mile trek from Jerusalem to Emmaus in late afternoon. Along the way, a stranger joined them and asked, "What are you talking about?"

By divine intervention, the two men didn't recognize the risen Lord. Their confusion and disappointment over Jesus' crucifixion and burial poured out. "Some of Jesus' followers discovered an angel at Jesus' tomb and his body was missing."

The stranger began to explain all the Old Testament scriptures about the coming Messiah. After walking down the road to Emmaus about two hours, the men arrived at the town. With typical Middle Eastern hospitality, they were adamant that Jesus spend the night with them. "It's almost dark. It's too late for you to continue your journey."

Because of their insistence, he joined them for dinner. While at their table he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave a piece to them, thus repeating his Last Supper actions. Luke 24:31 tells us that's when the hosts' eyes were opened and they recognized him-not just as a man, but as the Messiah.

While I walked down the road to Emmaus I realized that, two thousand years later, nothing has changed. Jesus still wants to be recognized as Savior and Lord today.

Prayer: Jesus, may you know that you are our Lord and Savior by the way we listen when you speak to us. Amen.