And behold, two of
them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven
miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these
things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus
Himself approached and began traveling with them. ... And they approached the
village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther.
But they urged Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening,
and the day is now nearly over." So He went in to stay with them. When He
had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and
breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they
recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. ... And they got up that very
hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and
those who were with them, ... They began to relate their experiences on the
road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. While they
were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them,
"Peace be to you." ... And when He had said this, He showed them His
hands and His feet. While they still could not believe it because of their joy
and amazement, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They
gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; and He took it and ate it before them. Luke 24:13-15,
28-31, 33, 35-36, 40-43
Jesus asked them if they had anything to eat!
Imagine how hungry He must have been! He hadn’t really eaten anything since the
Passover Meal we know as the Last Supper. He was beaten and tortured, then He
hung on the cross, died and was buried. When He rose from death He didn’t sit
down to a big breakfast—no He walked seven miles with two of His followers, who
didn’t even recognize Him. Then He sits down to eat…well actually reclines to
eat as was their custom…and He only blesses and breaks the bread, no mention of
eating it, before He disappears. So there He is back in Jerusalem, hungry. Have
you got anything to eat? He was ready to feast—so they gave Him some broiled fish.
They were filled with joy! Jesus, their master and teacher, wasn’t dead
anymore. We’ve heard the story before, but do you see that the disciples are
all happy and the room was probably noisy with the joyful celebration—and there
was Jesus, "Have you anything here
to eat?" His joy was centered on food right then. Where is your joy?
Are you rejoicing because of Jesus has filled your heart with the realization
that He is real…or are you just joyful over the food He has provided you to
eat? Are you rejoicing daily—not just on Sunday when you go to church and
worship the Lord?
Make my joy complete…Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any
consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection
and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the
same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Philippians 2:1-2 Jesus was likely rejoicing with them. What an
example He was for us at this point in His life—joyful and always focusing on the
Scriptures. He explained His life, His purpose to them on the road to Emmaus
and then opened their minds to understand the Scriptures after He ate the fish.
Keep reading in Luke 24.
Training
Tip – Celebrate with a joy cake…or even a joy sandwich
today. Don’t wait for a birthday to have a celebration. Stick a candle in your
sandwich…and in your child’s sandwich, meatloaf, chicken…or whatever…and
celebrate Jesus resurrection, His feast on earth and the one we’ll all have in
Heaven.
Lord – I rejoice
with You. Thank you for this lesson from the Emmaus road that You were hungry
and You ate. When we have our resurrected bodies, we’ll enjoy a great feast with physical and spiritual food at
Your Table in Heaven.
All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB)
unless otherwise noted.
© 2013
by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
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