The Code of the Road

Not a Sermon - Just a Thought - column for April 6, 2008

I’m crazy about road trips. Among my favorite road trips over the years are with my wife and her aunt and uncle. Debbie, the aunt, always starts a road trip with the same line, “Remember kids – what happens on the road, stays on the road,” meaning, of course, that any fun “mischief” remains a secret upon returning home. It’s funny because road trips with Aunt Debbie don’t usually involve mischief except for some of her shopping splurges. But still, the sentiment makes the trip more of an adventure.

This “Code of the Rode” was not in force for a Biblical character named Cleopas. He and an unnamed friend were taking a road trip to the village of Emmaus. These two encountered Jesus but they didn’t understand who he was at first. By the end of the conversation they’d figured out that the person they’d been talking to was the same person who’d been crucified and dead just a few days earlier.

No way, no how were these two able to promise “what happens on the road, stays on the road.” There was no way they could keep quiet about encountering the risen Lord and the story ends with the two aborting the road trip to return to Jerusalem. There they sought out the eleven disciples and the scripture says, “…they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made know to them in the breaking of the bread” (Luke 24.35).

All on a road trip.

Lots of interesting things happen on road trips. What about yours? Lately I’m discovering that the road trip of faith includes discussion, disputes, and discoveries. Oh yeah, some good dining, too. Let’s think about that together this Sunday at Willow Meadows Baptist Church in a sermon entitled What Happened on the Road. We gather for Bible Study at 9:30 a.m., and worship is at 10:45 a.m. I hope you can join us!

Head out on the highway lookin’ for adventure,
Pastor Gary

Not a Sermon – Just a Thought is a weekly email from me, Gary Long. I’m the pastor of Willow Meadows Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. You can subscribe or unsubscribe by emailing me directly at glong@wmbc.org.

Luke 24.13-35
On the Road to Emmaus
13Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16but they were kept from recognizing him.
17He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
19"What things?" he asked.
"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
25He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Did not the Christ[b] have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.
30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"
33They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." 35Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.