Mexico Devotional | Day 02

SCRIPTURE

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him... And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

LUKE 24: 13-35 (ABRIDGED)

DEVOTIONAL

In this story on the road to Emmaus, two disciples—not just fans, but actual disciples—encounter Jesus after his resurrection. In an interesting twist, we find that the disciples find themselves unable to recognize him. According to the Gospel of John, these disciples traveled with Jesus for three years, walking with them, listening to him, and receiving his teaching...

And what does the resurrected Jesus do when he meets them?

He walks alongside them,

He listens to them,

And he teaches them.

And yet, in all of these moments, the disciples are still unable to recognize Jesus in his resurrected form, even when he had done the same things for them before he died. The moment that sparks their recognition and realization happens over a meal.

We often search for God throughout our day: in moments of prayer and worship, during teachings when we hope for revelation, or when we serve the other. And while God can and does meet us in all of those moments, we find that on the road to Emmaus, what truly unlocked the recognition of Jesus among them was over a meal—a seemingly innocuous moment where they intentionally shared a place, and gave care and attention to one another.

As we enter into the second day of the build, our focus can often be on the end goal—what is the next step? When will the house be finished? But Jesus invites us to pause, reflect, and recognize the moments when we encountered Jesus during our time with the family and with one another yesterday.

When did you feel the care and attention of a loving God?

When was life breathed into you?

When did you laugh and experience joy?

What did you receive from the family?

When did you truly feel alive?

These are moments where we glimpse the hidden reality of Jesus among us. In fact, Jesus instructs us in Matthew 10 that when we receive and give hospitality to one another, we are in fact receiving Jesus himself, even if we are not aware of it. It is in the act of hosting and creating intentional space with the other that we find ourselves face-to-face with our Lord.

The late pastor and theologian Eugene Peterson says this: “Stories are verbal acts of hospitality.”

As you pray and enter into the second day, ask the Lord to highlight a story from yesterday. Write it down and remember it.

These stories are meant to open our eyes to reality that we are hosting pockets and moments of Jesus,

Of Jesus with us,

Of Jesus around us,

Of Jesus in us.

ENDING PRAYER

Merciful God,
I present to you my body, a living sacrifice.

God,
my body,
a living sacrifice.

God,
My body.
Amen.