Expectations

Things don't always turn out the way we expect them to.

Now on that same day, the first day of the week, two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. - Luke 24:13-35

The couple talking to the stranger on the road to their home was disappointed.

First, everything they believed the Messiah was to be failed to happen.  Either the one they thought was the Messiah was not, or they were seriously wrong in their expectations.

Either way, it was an earth-shattering revelation for them.

Yet, they wanted to believe that Jesus was risen and alive.  They had gone to the tomb to see, but once again, were disappointed.

So, now, on the road, they hear that their beliefs about the Messiah were misguided.  There was another way to look at the situation.

This news astounded them for their eyes were opened to the possibility that this was the way the prophets said it would happen.  And then, just as they see the light, Jesus leaves them.

They, like us, are left on their own, firmly rooted in faith, believing what seemed impossible just a moment ago.

This is where we are this week.

Are we going out and telling everyone what we learned?

Or are we keeping it to ourselves?

We could follow the example of Jesus on the road and open the eyes of others, couldn't we?

More to come...