Jesus Takes This Walk With Me

The Road to Emmaus, my turn to speak this morning, with my sermon titled Taking a Walk With Jesus. (yeah, I know not the most creative titling, but it was clear and to the point. I'll do better next time, promise.) I greatly appreciate the Gospel of Luke, how the author included so many different people, teachings, healings, workings of God within the lives of people that desperately needed hope.

When I am preparing a sermon I always find at least a full page of questions after interacting with the Scripture: the hows, whys, wheres, they are frequently easy to answer (or find or research). The questions with the answers, those are like checking off my list. Yet once the sermon-ating process (yeah, yeah, this is Merriam Webster's territory, word fusion - you understand what I mean, you do it too, I know it.) is rolling, its not the answered questions that shape the whole body of my sermon, it has to include some of these unasnwered ones, too. I cannot answer every single question, these probing little fissures of curiosity and inquisition.

A few of them remain, linked together within this passage, they remain for me tonight, trivial, non-inflammatory, non-theologically based; there is no foundational doctrine which will be affected by the answers or the withholding of such. But they make me smile just to think about it - Question: Did the disciples recognize Jesus when He broke the bread because He always did the same thing with a loaf before He broke it? Like flipped it around, spinning it in His fingers? Does He smell its aroma to make sure its fresh? Turn it over as if an inspection, thank the provider for their artistry in baking? Did He save the heel for Himself (my favorite part, and if I was doing the breaking, I would try to find a way to maneuver it to be on my plate.) and ask for some schmear and lox? Did He even eat any or was the breaking - the habit these disciples had witnessed over and over again - was it the habitual behavior they recognized? Or was the recognition based upon God' release of the Holy Spirit to realize whose presence had encouraged them so deeply?

Luke always find a way to bring a good word, a solid word, and Emmaus brings a poignant insight to Jesus who continues to teach, again and again, the Suffering Servant is the fulfillment of the Prophets and our spiritual walk will include questions, discouragement and uncertainty. As believers we can reach out and draw the importance of truth, the Holy Spirit reminds us we never walk alone.

Jesus Takes This Walk With Me


Every step, in rhythm
I step out to the day;
Jesus takes this walk with me
No waiting, no delay.

Sometimes this walk is rapid,
Full of things to do,
People, places, circumstances -
A schedule to get through.

Still, Jesus takes this walk with me,
Not critical of the pace,
But simply, truly reminding me
“Life is not a race.”

Sometimes this stride is slackened,
With questions yet to ask,
“What will happen?” “How can it be?”
“Am I really up to this task?”

Still Jesus takes this walk with me,
Not demanding or distraught;
Jesus keeps this pace as well,
Hears the queries I have brought.

My questions, rants and ravings
Are not too much for Him;
Jesus hears my heart, completely,
And then fills it to the brim.

His answers in conversation
Always show He knows me best;
I cannot see the future
Or know all about my quest.

Still, He gives me deep encouragement
When things seem so unknown;
Jesus takes this walk with me,
I am never, ever alone.

jsi

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going on farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”…They returned to Jerusalem at once, and told what had happened to them on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. Luke 24:28-35