Conclusion: A Final Word
Conclusion
A FINAL WORD
Rumors were flying around Jerusalem. Some of the women reported an empty tomb. Others spoke of visions and angels. But these accounts only confused the two Emmaus disciples I mentioned earlier in the book. Had anybody actually seen Jesus? What could it all mean?
They hung around Jerusalem as long as they could, waiting for solid evidence. Finally, near the end of the day, the two men shrugged their shoulders, packed their duffle bags, and headed for home. You know the story from there.
Jesus intruded into their lives on that homeward journey. He elbowed into their conversation, probing their thoughts, and pushing His point, “Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” (Luke 24:26).
The men listened intently, their hearts warmed by the words. They yearned to hear more, yet as they neared the village, “Jesus acted as if he were going farther” (v. 28). But they couldn’t just let this Stranger walk off into the twilight. So they urged Him to stay, probably hoping to hear more of His startling perspective.
They all entered a room and sat down. Cleopas and his friend reclined at the table with this now-welcome Intruder, talking on and on. Someone placed bread before them. Someone else may have asked their Guest to give thanks. He did. A beautiful prayer. But what was it about that voice? What was it about those strong hands? What was it about the way He broke bread? What did it remind them of? The crowd, the grass, the hillside, the baskets … and suddenly “their eyes were opened and they recognized Him.”
They were shocked. Stunned. This strange companion was the Lord Jesus Christ! How the tables had turned! Jesus had somehow become Host, and they the guests. His guests.
But they didn’t have long to ponder their situation. As soon as the disciples recognized their risen Lord, “He disappeared from their sight.”
What would you do at a time like that? The two men knew what to do. They didn’t stand around, scratching their heads. The moment Jesus left them, even at that late hour, “They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them assembled together” (v. 33) and the two told their story.
Can’t you just imagine the scene? There they were, dusty, sweaty, gasping for breath, explaining it all to the Eleven. Suddenly their speech was interrupted by the Glorious Intruder Himself. “Peace be with you,” Jesus said—and they just about jumped out of their skins. “They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost” (v. 37).
How were they to know Jesus had arrived ahead of them? Only a few hours before it was Jesus who had followed on the road to Emmaus; but somehow He had leaped ahead, waiting to spring His version of “Hello” on those who had followed Him.
What a change! Before, Jesus was the follower. Now, they followed Jesus. Once again the tables were turned.
Have the tables turned for you?
Perhaps in the past you’ve felt the Lord intrude, following after you, overstepping your comfort zones, grating against your self-will. You’ve sensed Him encroaching into your private time, invading, advancing, barging into areas you wish He’d ignore. You’ve heard His Spirit “talk out of turn,” urging some inconvenient, untimely change in your habits, your schedule, your life. As Oswald Chambers says, “We resent what Jesus Christ reveals. But either Jesus Christ is the supreme authority on the human heart, or He is not worth paying attention to. Am I prepared to trust His penetration?”
Just as you’re about to be irritated at this Intruder, something He says intrigues you. So let me ask … when Jesus intrudes into your life, how do you respond? Do you, like the disciples, feel your heart yearn for more? Do you call out to Him, urging Him, constraining Him to stay with you?
Or do you let Him pass by?
Ah, but if you would listen … if you would respond … if you would obey, you’d no longer consider the Lord an intruder. Instead you’d find yourself urging Him to stay, to tell you more, to reveal Himself further, to break bread at your table.
And when He does, you’ll find that He does not stay put—He leads you on! Jesus will entice you to follow Him. Urge you to seek Him out. Allure you to go where He leads. You’ll find yourself intruding into His mysteries, pleading with Him to explain more about His Word and Himself. You will follow Him, encroaching on the very throne room of heaven, setting up camp in the Holy of Holies.
I hope that somewhere, at some point in this book, God has broken bread with you, surprising you, revealing Himself in a personal way. I also hope you will sense the Lord Jesus leading you on, inviting you to follow.
Does God mind you intruding on Him? Well … “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks find. And to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).
So go ahead, ask. Go ahead, seek. Go ahead, knock. You can never intrude too much for God!