²⁸ By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, ²⁹ but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. ³⁰ As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. ³¹ Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

³² They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” ³³ And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, ³⁴ who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.”– Luke 24:13-35 NLT

This text is one of my favorites for the week after Easter. Luke tells us that there is still a lot of confusion just after the resurrection. People hear rumors that Jesus has risen, but they are still unsure. Two men who had obviously in some way had been following Jesus were headed back to the town of Emmaus and were discussing the events of the past week. A stranger enters the story, and everything changes.

They realize it was Jesus with whom they had shared the road at the breaking of bread. Suddenly, they profess that as Jesus visited with them and revealed the scriptures to them that their hearts burned with excitement. This excitement sent them back to Jerusalem to share their experience with others.

As Easter 2022 becomes a memory for us, it is time to fill our hearts burn once more with the passion that comes with following a risen Savior. It is time to put our hands on the plow and continue to till the fields utilizing our resources to grow the Kingdom of God.

Journeying Together,