As two of Jesus’ followers walked to Emmaus after the Passover, there was an air of disappointment among them. Their messiah had been crucified and as far as they could tell, it was over. They found it incredible that the stranger who joined them had not heard of the events which had happened in the past week in Jerusalem.

They had discussed the events in depth before the stranger had come along, and now they explained their discussion to their new travelling companion. As they went along, the discussion changed from them explaining events, to their companion explaining the reason for the events from the scriptures they knew so well. He called them foolish and explained why their Messiah had been crucified.

Once they had reached their destination, they still did not know the identity of the stranger. They urged the stranger to join them, instead of continuing to his destination as night was falling, and so he joined them. Only when he gave thanks for the bread and broke it did they realise this stranger was their Messiah, their Christ. At this revelation they rushed back to Jerusalem to tell the eleven disciples what had happened.

Much like Cleopas and his friend, we can travel through life with Jesus right beside us yet never realising. We may even call ourselves Christians, but not fully understand what Jesus Christ did on that first Good Friday. We may need to receive a dose of humility, it may be uncomfortable as our attitudes and thinking are corrected from the scriptures. However, once the truth is revealed to us and we receive it by faith, we’ll not be able to keep this good news to ourselves, but will want to tell the world.


As we go through life, we may feel unable to do that which God has called us to do. Weak, stumbling efforts which seems to achieve nothing.

We may think that life is unfair. That the lot of the unrighteous seems better than those whos seek to follow God.

We may go through bouts of considering ourselves so unworthy to be called Christians. Wondering how Jesus could even consider knowing us.

We may feel unaccompanied, alone, in this world. Surrounded by people, yet close to no one.

Life may seem uncertain and frightening.

Yet, when we look at what God has done in his Son. We should not let any of these feelings dwell in us. For if God did not spare his Son on the cross, how much more will he care for his children? For if we are his, his Spirit is with our spirit, and his grace is upon us. Unlike the metaphorical opium argued by Marx, this comfort doesn’t dull the mind or the senses, but sharpens the mind and reveals reality as it really is.