St. John’s

Saint John's Pulpit (Third Sunday of Easter))) – "Change Your Route" Luke 24:13-16, 28-35

Now on that same day two of them 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.

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.  hen 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 24:13-16, 28-35 NRSV

Change Your Route!

Let me ask a couple of questions. What would happen when you meet the Risen Lord? From the Good News of Jesus’ Resurrection, how would our life be transformed? If you want to find the right answer to these questions, please read Luke 24. Luke 24 is a wonderful story telling about Jesus’ Resurrection just as other Gospels do. But one thing we should note is that Luke is inviting various people to make this story real as best as he can. From Jesus’ eleven disciples (Judas is now missing) to all the rest Luke carefully recognizes all these people and highlights their role in Jesus’ Resurrection.

We all know that all four Gospels are presenting the role of women on the day of Jesus’ Resurrection in terms of becoming the first witnesses of Easter. However, it is only Luke that is narrating the story of two on the Road to Emmaus. Of course, in Mark 16, we find the same story, but it has only a few verses. In addition to this, Luke 24 has the same writing style to depict what happened on the day of Easter. Let me compare between the first and second stories in Luke 24. Luke 24:1-12 tells about women’s visit the tomb. In this story, all women were perplexed.

While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. Luke 24:4 NRSV

Then let us read the text today. Can you see any similarity? How did two men look in the text?

While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them,  but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.  17  And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. Luke 24:15-17 NRSV

The first women were sad. The two people looked sad.

The first women met two men in dazzling clothes. The two people also met the Risen Lord although they were not able to recognize him.

Through this accidental meeting, what happened to each of these people?

When the women heard about Jesus’ Resurrection, they returned from the tomb and shared this good news with the eleven disciples and more.

and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Luke 24:9 NRSV

For the women, they changed their route! In the text today, we also see the same change for these two people. On the road to Emmaus, they had a chance to chat with the Risen Lord. Finally, when they knew that the strange man was the Risen Lord, then a decision was made immediately:

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?”  33  That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. Luke 24:32-33 NRSV

Return to Jerusalem to share the Good News! Here is one clear message from Luke. To become Easter people means to meet the Risen Lord. Once we meet the Risen Lord, we are asked to take an action. It is changing our route! Return from the tomb and return to the people who need the Good News.

Here is one common thing. Like the first women and two people before meeting the Risen Lord, we are perplexed and look sad. Certainly, Easter is a special season to celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection, but we are mourning whenever we hear about victims of Covid-19. Hatred, blame, violation, criticism, and uncertainty… we are so sad. For me, this week was so terrible as I heard that North Korea’s Kim Jong Un is in grave danger after surgery. I hope that he is not as he has something to do for the unification of two Koreas. I really hope him to be alive not because I love him, but because I do the people in North Korea.

However, amidst of these perplex and sad things, the good news of Jesus’ Resurrection is given to us and is challenging our action now. It is changing our route. Through the Covid-19 and Easter 2020, hope that we can find the most important value in our life. Once we find, we should take an action. Return to Jesus, and people whom we love telling that He has risen!

One last thing is here. Do you know this? When Jesus was born in this world, there was a group of people who changed the route. Who were they? They were the wise men. After meeting and adoring the baby Jesus, the wise men were asked to change the route immediately.

On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  12  And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. Matthew 2:11-12 NRSV

What a coincidence! Nay, it may be a predicted outcome! Why? If we would meet Jesus deeply, a real transformation comes automatically. Don’t be perplexed. You just need to change your route. The Risen Lord is always with you in your life journey! Amen.