While we normally regard Easter as a happy and joyous celebration, it wasn’t that way for the early followers of Jesus. In most of the stories we have of disciples meeting Jesus after the resurrection, they are portrayed as confused, depressed, doubting and in some cases plain terrified.
The marvellous story of two of these disappointed disciples trudging home after the events of Easter starts with this familiar tone. Luke writes that they look sad and gloomy, their hopes of a brighter and better future with Jesus firmly dashed by the events of black Friday. They are joined by a mysterious fellow traveller on the road and get to talking about their recent experiences. Their new friend listens patiently to their story before gently urging them to see the Scriptures that speak about the Messiah differently.
The two invite the friend to share an evening meal with them and as he takes bread, blesses it and breaks it, suddenly they recognise that their friend is none other than Jesus, risen from the dead. Now their hearts are filled with joy and wonder and excitement, even while Jesus disappears mysteriously from their midst.
I wonder how and where we notice or sense the presence of Jesus with us. And why we often struggle to recognise or name this presence. Perhaps we are too preoccupied with our own thoughts and problems. Perhaps we imagine that Jesus would never come to us in our everyday situation. But what if Jesus came to us in the guise of a stranger who listened to our story and then encouraged us to view life in a different way? Who knows, perhaps we have met Jesus and weren’t aware of it. This story reminds us that Jesus meets us where we are yet may be hard to recognise.