I’ve been spending some time in Luke 24:13-35 the past few weeks. Take a few minutes to read it. The story is of the two men on the Road to Emmaus. My motives are not totally my own…it is for a class I have been taking. However, the story is one that has interested me for as long as I can remember. A large painting of the scene hangs over the fireplace in my parents’ home. I remember studying it many times and wondering how they could have missed Jesus in their midst.
We have a grandson named Amaeus, derived from this town’s name. I remember the night our son called and asked me what Emmaus meant. In my heart I knew that would be our next grandchild’s name! We did a “Google” search and discovered that there was no real meaning attributed to the word like many other names had. The only reference we found was that the Hebrew word meant “warm spring.” We also found references to it being a derivative from “people despised or obscure.” Hmmm…not necessarily a meaning one would want to apply to their grandchild, and yet…something was very intriguing about it. “Amaeus Jordan” he would be called.
Now, another review of this portion of scripture brings further reflection. Have you ever thought about it in light of our five senses? In its context…what is there in this story to see, feel, smell, hear, and taste? Here are two discouraged and dejected men, traveling away from Jerusalem after our Lord’s crucifixion. They had heard from the women that the tomb was empty and even a couple of the disciples had gone and verified their report. I notice a progression to their senses when you take the time to look for it.
See: the long road to Emmaus > a Strange man > frowns and sadness > the village > the table and the meal > Jesus! > the short road to Jerusalem > the eleven disciples
Feel: the loss, sadness and woe > the hot evening > tiredness and hopelessness, a yet a stirring of the heart > sore feet > the hard floor at the dinner table > the bread in their hands > the realization that the Stranger is JESUS! > renewed vigor, hope, and joy > excitement, shortness of breath from the brisk walk back to Jerusalem > the hard road beneath their hurrying feet > the breeze of the rush back to Jerusalem > the rejoicing with the eleven and the other believers
Smell: the hot, stagnant air > the dust of the long road > the sweaty bodies > the town > dinner > the closeness of the room the eleven and the others were hiding in
Hear: the sadness > the discussion and debate of the past days’ happenings > the greeting of the Stranger > the questions…always the questions > the truth of the Stranger’s Words > Jesus’ blessing of the meal > the astonishment and joy > the quick steps on the road > the eleven and the others’ stories and responses
Taste: the tears of sadness > the sweat > the dust > the meal…did they eat…the reality of Jesus’ presence drove away the need > the tears of joy
I don’t know about you, but pondering the humanness of this story makes the divineness of it all the more wondrous. They are just a couple of people, so overcome by their earthly situation that they miss the risen Lord of all right there in their midst. How often this happens to us…to me. And yet, as they said, do we not also "feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?" He comes to us, no matter how “despised or obscure” we are. He comes to us as a “warm spring” and as a “warmed heart.”
Back to our grandson’s name…Jordan means “down flowing.” So, Amaeus Jordan…a “warm spring”…“flowing down.” Jesus, the water of life, came down to man and offers life. Revelation 21:6-7 says “He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.’” No greater promise can we desire! No greater presence can we crave. May we recognize HIM on our way...
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