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A Footnote in a Secular World

This past Sunday was Easter. It is the most important day in the Christian faith. Sadly, and evidence of our time, it has become a footnote in the larger cultural conversations. If you go back 15-20 years in American life, Easter garnered a respectable place of prominence in the cultural conversation. Now, people seem to avoid it.

However, in the midst of all this, God is still at word. Jesus, through his Holy Spirit is still speaking to the hearts of people. This is what we see in Luke 24:13-15. It is the famous story of Emmaus Road. The story reminds me of the famous book series, “Where’s Waldo?” The reason you don’t see Waldo is because he is hidden amongst a colorful array of images. But once you see him you can’t un-see him! It’s the same with Jesus on the Road. Put another way, the disciples are playing “Where’s Jesus?” once they hear about the empty tomb.

This passage is a reaction to Easter and it reveals three heart postures.

Broken Hearts

First, it shows us our broken hearts. All of us are going somewhere and it was no different with the disciples. That is, until Jesus interrupts their day. He asks what they are talking about and we read this:

And they stood still, looking sad. (Luke 24:17b, ESV)

They stood still ... looking sad. Wow. That is a powerful verse. Interruptions, especially unexpected interruptions, reveal what is happening to our hearts. These disciples just paused ... thought about everything that just happened ... and they looked sad. Other translations say, “their faces were downcast.” Put another way: their hearts were broken. They were sad. Jesus has a habit of interrupting us at just the right time to speak to our hearts.

When confronted with the reality and beauty of Easter, we realize just how broken our world is. It is dis-heartening.

Foolish Hearts

Second, this passage shows us we have foolish hearts. Often, when our hearts deal with pain, it shows our lack of belief in what God can do. As they are walking along the Road to Emmaus, Jesus, who they still don’t recognize, takes some leadership in the conversation. He has heard enough of their story, and he going to speak to their hearts:

He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! (Luke 24:25)

Look carefully at Jesus’ rebuke. What does he call them? Foolish. Why? Because their hearts are SLOW to believe.

Do you have a slow heart? Maybe Jesus wants to speak to you. Some of us reading this post have been skeptical for a long time. We’ve been staring at the page of life trying to find Jesus. Others of us, we are Christians, but life has dealt us a bad hand and we’ve lost our trust in God. Whatever happens our hearts are slow to believe. I would ask: Why is your heart slow? Our hearts are foolish and slow because we are listening to ourselves and missing the bigger story of God!

Burning Hearts

Finally, our goal should be burning hearts. As the disciples finished their journey, they asked Jesus to stay with them. Why did they want to spend more time with him? Everything was finally making sense. The picture was starting to come into focus. Then, during a meal, the 3-D image explodes off the page.

When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. (Luke 24:30-31, ESV)

Having a meal with Jesus and breaking bread is a common image in Luke’s Gospel. It points to the new life Jesus offers. It’s in that moment that Jesus makes the big reveal—they now see, IT’S HIM! Once you’ve seen who Jesus is you can’t un-see him! The whole picture of life is transformed because they caught a glimpse of the Resurrection.  How did they respond?

They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32, ESV)

What’s crazy is that just as their eyes are opened he disappears. But inside something is different. Their hearts are BURNING; they are ON FIRE from Jesus. Why? Mike McKinley puts it this way.

No wonder the disciples’ hearts were burning as Jesus opened the Scriptures for them! The resurrection makes sense of the whole story of Jesus—really, the story of the whole Bible. The resurrection stamps the word “KEPT” all over the promises of the Old Testament; it makes the terrible events of the crucifixion to be great news and lights up heavy hearts on fire.

Friends, do you have a heavy heart today? Is something not right in your life? You need the fire that comes from the Resurrection! What is seen ... cannot be unseen.

Have You Found Jesus?

Let me ask you: have you found Jesus today? Or are you still staring at life, or at the Bible, trying to figure it out. Because maybe, on this busy road you are traveling, perhaps you’ve missed the point.

I want to speak to two groups of people. First, if you are a Christian, maybe you just attended your 50th Easter Service. Let me exhort you—Easter needs to make your heart burn. If it doesn’t, ask yourself, “What’s wrong? Has Jesus become hidden in my life because I’m not looking?”

Second, some of us are skeptical. If that is you, read this very carefully. God has this message for you:

"You matter to Me. I understand everything about your life. I know you. I made you. And I know your broken heart too. But I sent My Son to die for you. And I raised him up. I did all of this to offer you my victory, to make possible a restored relationship with you."

That's what Easter is all about. God knows you. He wants you to know Him. Will you place your faith in Him? “I found Jesus!” That is message of the Emmaus Road on the way to our own Resurrection.