It may seem strange that Jesus would meet these two men on the Road to Emmaus and not reveal himself.  However this is not at all unusual.  Solomon said at the dedication of the temple that he dwells in thick darkness.

Jesus had some things he wanted to explain.  If they knew it was Jesus , his presence would have overwhelmed them.  They couldn’t have meditated on his words.

        First he asks them a rhetorical question.  All God’s questions are rhetorical.  He already has all the answers.  He is always asking us to assess our situation.  Where are you now?  Why do you do the things you do?  Why do you think the way you think? 

        What manner of communications are these that you have as you walk and are so sad?  Spell it out, what’s the problem?

        First their reasoning is that their new companion is a stranger to the area.  If he were a local resident he would already know because the land was abuzz with this story.

“It’s all so confusing.  He was a prophet of God.  He was taken by the chief priests and crucified.  We thought he was the one that would redeem Israel.  Now we hear rumors that he is alive.”

    [25] Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: [26] Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

Isn’t that exactly what was supposed to happen?  Well not if you re looking for your redeemer to be a General who rides on a horse with an army to conquer the Roman government and restore Israel to the Kingdom that it was in the days of David and Solomon.

 It is not unusual for us to feel like everything is out of control and forget that Jesus is still on the throne.  We sometimes spend time beating ourselves up, feeling that God is a long ways away and wondering if everything is not just an exercise in futility.  The whole time Jesus is right next to us walking with us waiting for us to ask him so that he can explain.  Sometimes I ask, “How do these circumstances fit into God’s plan?”

Along the Road to Emmaus  we find out that life is an adventure to be experienced.  Our hearts burn within us when we stumble across truth.  In the seventies there was a song of the title, "Things Get a Little Easier Once You Understand ."  I think that's true.  

Take a little time, let me share with you a few of the truths I have learned Along the Road to Emmaus. 

Poems like Mrs. Butterworth, The Alarm Clock and The Artiste I believe you will find humorous and entertaining.  Dave Gargus and Monte Hall are biographical.  Feel free to use sermon outlines and illustrations.