April 12,  2012                                      Hazel of Old Windsor   (UK)                                    Hazel's previous articles

The Road to Emmaus  

The crippled man at the Beautiful Gate was without hope.  He expected nothing, just hoped that someone would have pity on him and give him a few pence.  What Peter and John gave him though was a new life, a life with new legs that worked – he could jump, he could walk, so what else could he do but praise God.  

Two men were walking away from disaster and disappointment.  The hope they had had, had vanished when their leader was crucified – the most shameful and horrific death of their time.  How could they go on?  Their hopes were crushed with the awful death of their leader.  And then, … and then, this person questioned them on what had happened.  How could he not know?  How could he have missed hearing about all those terrible events?  They could hardly see where they going, so distressed were they at losing their hope.  They were putting Jerusalem behind them, going away, leaving all their hopes and dreams behind.  And then, … and then, this person joined them on their journey, explaining to them the prophecies about the Messiah.  And then, … and then, just as their spirits started to rise, as hope started to be reborn in their hearts, they recognised him – he broke the bread with them as they had seen him break bread with them all many times before – and then he was gone.  No time now to stay the night.  No time now to sleep and take a rest.  They must go at once – back to Jerusalem.  They must tell Peter and the Apostles.  Anyhow how could they sleep now with this wonderful news burning in their hearts.  

This is the news of Easter.  This is our crucified Lord, alive, risen and living, eating with his friends.  This is death conquered once and for all.  And we are the inheritors.  If Jesus no longer walks the earth,  his message of hope is still here for us all.  Death is no longer an horrific event.  Now we have a companion who has been there before us.  We have a guide to take us through to heaven from our earthly prison.  We have a good friend who wants only to take us to his, and our, Father.  This is our belief, a belief in a life after death, when we shall be with him as he promised.  

We must join in praising God too, thanking him for the gift of new life this Easter, and new hope in the resurrected Jesus Christ, our Saviour.