Scripture Reading: Luke 24:13-35

The Guest Who Became the Host

The drama of Easter begins early in the morning, and it ends late in the day.

“Drama” may not be exactly the right word to describe all that happens, because much of the Easter story takes place when no one is around to see it. The resurrection occurred well before the women arrived at the tomb. By the time the disciples arrived, they were merely confirming what others already knew.

What we have in the Easter story instead are people waking up to the fact that the world has changed, that a man who was dead has come to life, that life itself will never be the same. It is a day of recognition.

At the end of the day on Easter, Jesus appears to two disciples we don’t know well – one of them is named Cleopas – and walks with them, pretending not to know what had happened earlier that day in Jerusalem. They were astonished by his ignorance, the story tells us, but I am guessing that he was just as astonished by theirs.

The two disciples are apparently overcome with grief (what else can explain their failure to recognize the stranger who had joined them on the road?), but they nevertheless welcome this stranger’s presence. He invites them to tell the story, which they seem eager to do. It often helps to tell stories of tragedy to verbalize our pain. And they seem to go into considerable detail.

At one point in the journey, Jesus finally speaks up and leads the other two in what must have been the best Bible study in history. I wish we had a recording of it. What a privilege it must have been for them to hear Jesus “interpret to them the things about himself in all the Scriptures.”

When the small group of travelers reached Emmaus, Jesus pretends to go on. He seems to know the rules of hospitality in that part of the world. He knows they will invite him to stay. And they do. They “urged him strongly.”

During the meal, a great deal happens. It is a wonderful scene to imagine, and several artists over the centuries have done just that. At some point, for example, the stranger (Jesus) goes from being the guest to the host – “he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.” This is the work of the host, of course, and Jesus is comfortable in the role. This is what he has come to do.

At that moment, something extraordinary happened. As I mentioned, the “drama” of Easter is not really all that dramatic. If you don’t pay attention, you will miss it. The story tells us that “their eyes were opened and they recognized him.” Not a lot of action in that moment – it was a recognition more than anything, but it was life-changing.

The stranger “vanished from their sight,” but the two disciples had never been more alive, more certain, more filled with joy. It was in that moment – a sacramental moment! – that they finally understood.

I hope that this season has been for you a season of recognition, of coming to see Jesus as the risen one, the guest in our midst who is really our host, the stranger who is in fact the Son of God, victor over sin and death.