Stranger Encounters of the Third Day

It was an ordinary day, in an extraordinary time.

We had been in Jerusalem for the Passover

We had been there on that amazing occasion -

the day of the Palm Branch flash mob.

One minute it was just Passover busy, 

with streets thronged with people visiting the town to celebrate  one of the key festivals on the temple calendar.

Meeting friends and relatives we hadn’t seen 

since the previous Passover.

Suddenly Jesus appears with his disciples.

We couldn’t believe it.

It was the last place he should be!

Jerusalem is the powerhouse of the Pharisees and Sadducees

- those who valued order and authority

- who ruled the temple to suit themselves

and would stop at nothing to maintain the status quo.

We didn’t notice at first, 

we were too busy chatting to my brothers, wife’s uncles, eldest son - who is also my nephew, and cousin twice removed…

Suddenly we realised that all around us 

the hubbub of normal conversations were stopping 

as the sound of celebration approached

Was there a parade?

There was nothing scheduled to the best of my knowledge.

Everyone was turning towards the road

shoulder to shoulder they were,

but we stood on tiptoe

and peered over to see what all the fuss was about.

It was Jesus

On a donkey, 

riding into town like a conquering hero.

The authorities are not going to like this

Not one little bit.

Some tore branches from the trees that lined the street,

others cast off their outer clothing.

Perhaps they were trying to deaden the sound

to keep the parade a secret

but there was no chance of that

The crowd cried out in praise as Jesus rode by

“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!”

Over and over, they shouted this refrain.

As soon as it died down in one place, it would spring up in another

it was as if some unseen spiritual power was at work, 

stirring hearts

causing people to cry out in praise

Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!”

Whenever Jesus was in town the Sadducees spies soon let them know

and they would appear.

This day was no exception.

Sure enough, they were soon having a ‘quiet word’ with Jesus

Well, I say 'quiet word', 

but to be honest they had to raise their voices a bit 

in order to be heard over the tumult

They didn’t mention the donkey

(they glossed over that bit)

or the palm branches, torn from the trees and waved aloft

(they pretended not to notice those)

or the cloaks, trampled underfoot

(I bet they noticed those!)

No, it was the praise they objected too

Sadducees aren’t great fans of praise.

They stood huddled together for mutual moral support and affirmation,

not one backbone between strong enough for them to stand alone.

They recognised and resented Jesus’ power and authority

Knowing they couldn’t stop the crowd

Having no idea how to silence the joyful celebrations

But they knew a man who could

the one for whom the praises were being raised.

Jesus the Messiah.

He was the only one who could quieten the crowd.

“Teacher,” they said, “order your disciples to stop.”

Jesus’ answer, was as usual, one that left you scratching your head

“I tell you, if the crowd was silent, the stones would cry out.”

We didn’t like the sound of stones crying out,

so we were quite relieved that the crowd didn’t fall silent

I mean imagine stones crying out

that would be some sort of rock concert…

Jesus stayed in the city all week, 

teaching, preaching, healing, 

battling injustice

overturning tables in the temple 

and driving out those who exploited the house of prayer for personal gain.

Well, that didn’t improve his popularity stakes with the Jewish authorities.

Not one iota!

We weren’t surprised to hear he had been arrested.

Oh, how we hoped he would be set free, 

so his disciples could whisk him away before he got into any more trouble.

But his face was resolute.

It was as if he knew what was going to happen,

and wasn’t afraid.

We were there when Pilate tried to release Jesus

In our anguish, we cried out for his release

called out HIS name.

But our throats were dry,

and our anguished plea came out like a hoarse whisper.

Absolutely no competition against the well-lubricated rabble 

who bayed for Barabbas’ release

who whipped up the crowd into a frenzy

pleading freedom for a murderer,

instead of an innocent man!

Pilate knew he had been tricked, 

but there was nothing he could do but condemn an innocent man to death.

You could tell from his face that he wanted no part in this

and only acquiesced to avoid an uprising 

from those living in this occupied nation

Civil unrest would see the end of his career, 

and possibly his life.

It was a price greater than he was prepared to pay.

My wife went,

and watched

as our Lord’s life slowly ebbed away.

I couldn’t bear to be there

My heart was broken.

My hopes were dashed.

All that I believed would be

ended on a cross.

We came to celebrate the Passover

and ended up mourning the death 

of the one, we all regarded as a very dear friend.

I remember crying out.

'God, where were you, when the one who raised the dead, died?

'Where is the sense, 

the justice, 

the triumph, 

the purpose in his death?

What were you thinking, God?"

It just did not make sense to me in any shape or form.

They took him away.

Laid his body in a borrowed grave 

and sealed him in a tomb.

And then the rumours started.

Early on the morning following the Sabbath

some of the women went to the tomb

hoping to anoint Jesus' body.

But when they arrived at the tomb, it was open.

The stone had been rolled away.

and all they found were neatly folded grave clothes.

Angels appeared and the women were terrified.

Couldn’t lift their eyes off the ground,

to look upon those heavenly beings.

The angels addressed them

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? 

He is risen!

Remember, what he told you?

That he must be crucified, but would rise again.”

Talk about a transformation! 

Their fears vanished. 

They rushed back 

and shared the good news with the others.

“Christ has risen from the dead! Alleluia!”

But the others hadn’t had the benefit of an angelic encounter,

so the tale seemed too fanciful to be true.

Peter, impulsive Peter, raced off to the tomb.

and saw it was just as the women had said

So we found ourselves returning home,

our minds analysing and dissecting each detail,

considering carefully all we had seen and heard.

Dismissing the farfetched, only to reclaim it.

Wanting to believe,

but not quite daring to.

Suddenly the two of us became three, 

as a stranger joined us.

We must have been so engrossed in our conversation 

that we didn’t really notice that he was there until he spoke. 

To our incredulity, he asked us what was the mystery we were trying to solve

as we walked the Emmaus road?

It may sound rude now, but I almost laughed.

How could this stranger, who appeared from nowhere

understand all that had happened, 

particularly the events of the past week?

We paused on that dusty road.

Our hearts heavy with grief and sorrow,

and suddenly felt overwhelmed by the depths of despair.

I swallowed, and the words came out haltingly

as if I didn’t know what the next one would be

“Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem 

who doesn’t know what has happened over the last few days?”

“What things?” he enquired, gently.

We described the events of the last week. 

How we had believed that Jesus was the Messiah 

the one who would redeem Israel, 

but our leaders colluded to have him arrested on trumped up charges, 

he was denied a fair trial, 

condemned to death 

and crucified.

This is now the third day, 

and rumours are

circulating that he has risen from the dead, 

that he is alive. 

“It began with the women who went to the tomb first thing this morning

as soon as they could after the Sabbath had ended, 

but his body was gone. 

All they saw were angels.”

Our friend listened to our tales and his response surprised me.

He was not shocked, outraged or disbelieving.

Instead, this stranger on the road, admonished us! 

But before we can even consider being offended,

he is giving us a master class in scripture, 

beginning with Moses.

He began to explain why it was essential 

that our Messiah should have suffered all that he did, 

That, in fact, it was the whole purpose of his ministry.

As he was talking and detangling my brain,

making sense of all the loose end, 

and seemingly conflicting thoughts 

that cluttered my thinking.

I became aware of this glowing within me.

Right here in my heart

It was as if I was back on the hillside, listening to Jesus’ teaching,

or in the temple when he read from scriptures.

The stranger spoke with such clarity and purpose 

that it never crossed my mind to doubt what he said

because he spoke with such insight..

The miles flew by,

and it seemed as if no sooner had we set off 

than we arrived at Emmaus.

Our new friend edged ahead, 

as if preparing to travel on further

but we urged him to stay, 

It had been a long day and we wanted to offer hospitality

to the stranger on the road.

As we sat down, ready to eat, 

he took the bread, 

blessed it and broke it.

In that instant, we knew, 

we turned and looked at each other

and we both knew that the other knew as well.

It was Jesus 

and it was true!

Jesus had risen.

Death is defeated!

And he was gone.

We would have loved him to stay longer, 

but we knew he had done what he needed to do

at that precise moment in time.

We were amazed that we did not recognise him

After all, it wasn’t as if he was a stranger to us…

Afterwards, I pondered on the fact that neither of us realised who he was.

Was it because we did not expect to see him that we didn’t recognise him?

Or was it that he stopped us from noticing who he was, 

so he could give us this precious teaching session to share with others, 

or a bit of both?

One thing was for certain, 

we could not keep this news to ourselves!

Despite the lateness of the hour, 

we set off once more, 

back down the Emmaus Road, 

hotfooting it back to the others in Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, Peter had also met with Jesus.

The tide was turning.

Hope was replacing despair!

But the story doesn’t end there.

They will still be remembering these events for many years to come!

If I could speak to future generations, what would I say to them?

Jesus cares

When he drew up alongside us that day on the Emmaus Road, 

he didn’t just begin by giving us facts. 

No, he was interested in us.

He started off by asking us what was happening, 

what we were concerned about.

He established what we understood,

before filling in the gaps in our understanding.

Jesus met us where we were, 

going about our daily routines

and helped us to understand.

I laugh about it now, 

when I think back.

Me thinking that Jesus doesn’t know what has happened - to him!

You couldn’t make it up!

Jesus wants us to share his story

In those early days, every time one of Christ’s followers had an encounter with Jesus, 

They returned to the group to share their story. 

Powerful stuff, testimony. 

It reaches hearts and minds in ways an academic lesson cannot. 

I do hope that Christ’s followers will always keep sharing their testimonies.

Jesus understands when we don’t get it

It is not an exam to pass!

It’s a journey,

just like our journeys back and forth along the road to Emmaus!

I feel like I know every rock along the way...

We have days when it all makes sense 

and days when it really doesn’t.

One day, perhaps, all this will be written down, 

so that it is not forgotten.

Do keep up the oral tradition of sharing Jesus’ story

Don’t worry if you are not the best speaker.

Jesus will give you the words to say., 

He will send a helper to untangle your confusion, 

and bring you hope, joy and peace

and the words to say.

It’s in his job description

Just remember yours

tell others about the impact Jesus has had on your life.

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