A Day in the Life
“Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
Luke 24:32
I often find myself walking the Emmaus road without realizing it. Not literally, of course, but inwardly—moving through the day with conversations running in my head, trying to make sense of events that do not align with what I expected God to do. The two disciples in Luke 24 were doing exactly that. They were earnest, faithful men, replaying the recent events in Jerusalem and attempting to reconcile their hopes with a crucified Messiah. They were not casual observers of Jesus; they had invested their trust in Him. Yet now, disappointment clouded their vision, and confusion dulled their hope. What strikes me is that Jesus did not rebuke them for their bewilderment. He joined them.
Luke tells us that Jesus “drew near and went with them,” though their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. That detail matters. Christ does not wait for perfect understanding before He comes alongside us. He joins those who are honestly seeking, even when their theology feels shaky and their emotions unsettled. As they walked, Jesus listened. Then He began to interpret the Scriptures, showing how Moses and the Prophets pointed to the Messiah who must suffer before entering glory. Their circumstances had not changed, but their understanding began to shift. The Greek phrase describing their experience—kaiomenē hē kardia, “their heart was being kindled”—suggests a steady inner awakening, not a sudden emotional surge.
This is where I recognize my own need. Like those disciples, I often try to interpret life from my limited vantage point. The Emmaus travelers assumed that the death of Jesus meant the failure of God’s plan. Jesus, however, revealed that the cross was not a contradiction of Scripture but its fulfillment. As biblical scholar N. T. Wright observes, “They thought they knew the story God was telling, but Jesus shows them that God’s story was larger, deeper, and more costly than they had imagined.” That insight still rings true. When Jesus opens the Scriptures, He does more than provide information; He reorients the heart.
What transforms the scene is not merely that Jesus explains the Bible, but that He does so in the midst of their lived experience. Scripture is not treated as a detached text but as a living word that interprets reality. Hebrews reminds us that “the word of God is living and active” (Hebrews 4:12). The Emmaus disciples did not feel inspired because they heard something new; they felt awakened because truth met them precisely where confusion had settled. Their doubts did not vanish because circumstances changed, but because Christ’s presence reframed those circumstances.
Later, when Jesus breaks bread with them, their eyes are opened, and then He vanishes from their sight. Interestingly, they do not despair at His disappearance. Instead, they reflect on what had already happened within them. Recognition comes after illumination. This order is pastorally significant. We often want immediate clarity—visible proof before trust—but Jesus reverses that pattern. He allows the Scriptures, attended by His presence, to do their quiet work first. Only then do the disciples realize they have been walking with the risen Lord all along.
Once their hearts are ignited, they cannot remain where they are. Despite the late hour and the long road back, they return to Jerusalem to tell others what they have experienced. Encounter with the living Christ through Scripture always moves outward. As John Calvin once noted, “The Word is not given to be shut up in the heart, but to break forth in confession.” When Christ reorients us, He also re-commissions us.
If your own circumstances feel confusing today, the Emmaus story offers both comfort and direction. Jesus still draws near through the Scriptures. He still walks with those who are willing to bring their questions honestly before Him. When we open the Bible prayerfully, we are not merely seeking answers—we are welcoming Christ to interpret our lives. Over time, we may notice what those disciples noticed: a quiet burning within, an inner assurance that God is at work, even when the road ahead remains long.
For further reflection on the Emmaus encounter, see this thoughtful article from Bible Project:
https://bibleproject.com/articles/road-to-emmaus/
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