Food For The Journey
David Francis
Harrogate is famous for its spa heritage, with around 88 springs said to bubble up around the town. While the Victorian Turkish Baths are artificially heated, if we travelled back about 2000 years, we would find the ancient village of Emmaus, mentioned in Luke 24, gets its heat from the earth!
Apparently, its name means "warm spring" or "hot bath." Most of us appreciate the refreshing comfort of a warm bath after a demanding day though, sadly, seismic activity has long since stopped Emmaus’s flow.
This year the theme of the Yorkshire Churches on Show exhibit at the Great Yorkshire Show is "Travelling with Jesus." It is my privilege once again to represent Harrogate Vineyard with a small bread-related display, inspired by Luke's moving account of the risen Jesus being "recognised in the breaking of bread."
The Emmaus story is about far more than a journey to a village. It is the story of discouraged disciples whose hopes had been shattered by Jesus' crucifixion.
And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”
(Luke 24:17, NKJV)
The word "sad" here, (somewhat of an understatement I think!) in the Greek conveys deep grief, disappointment and bewilderment. Everything they had believed seemed lost. We can feel this way on occasion as life provides many problems and issues.
Yet Jesus drew near to them.
Without immediately revealing His identity, He walked beside them, chided their unbelief and then began to explain the Scriptures:
Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He showed how the whole of God's Word pointed to Himself
(Luke 24:27).
Their stirred hearts later testified, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32).
Their restoration began, not with dramatic miracles, but through God's Word. Jesus fed their weary hearts with truth before He fed their eyes with recognition. As Psalm 119:105 reminds us, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
When they reached Emmaus, they urged the man to stay and eat. At the meal He took bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to them - and then it happened! In that moment their eyes were opened and they recognised Him.
Maybe they heard an echo of His words at the Last Supper:
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
(Luke 22:19)
Having been fed by Christ through the Scriptures and confirmed in the breaking of bread, the two disciples immediately found renewed strength. Despite the darkness and danger of the evening, they returned at once to Jerusalem to share this phenomenal news: "The Lord has risen indeed!"
He was known in broken bread. This was a massive turning point in their understanding as not only was He truly their martyred prophet, but also the Divine Messiah long foretold in their scriptures.
Our own journeys also include disappointment, uncertainty and weariness. Yet the risen Jesus still draws alongside us through His living Word. As we read and study the Scriptures, we meet the One who is Himself the Bread of Life. He nourishes faith, restores hope and gives fresh courage for the road ahead.
There is certainly something restorative about a hot bath, but there is something infinitely greater in knowing that God knows you, loves you and walks beside you.
Paul encourages us, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" (Colossians 3:16).
Feed on Jesus through His Word, and He will fuel your walk with God.
