Week 5: Jesus: Blessed, Broken,
& Given Bread

Introduction:

This week we immerse ourselves in Jesus as our Blessed, Broken, and Given Bread. This story of downcast and spiritually hungry disciples opens our hearts and eyes to Jesus in our midst. No, we won’t see him physically as they did. However, we have hearts that can know him in his gospel words, and we have spiritual eyes that see him in the bread he gives us for our bodies and souls.

Scripture:

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.


As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. 

   – Luke 24


Invitations:

  • Read this week’s Scripture as though you are you are walking with Cleopas and his friend and meet Jesus on the road.
    — Use your senses: what would you see, what would you hear, what would you feel, what would you smell, what would you taste if you were there?
    — What thoughts would go through your head? What questions would you want to ask this “stranger”? How would you react to the events of the story?
    — Looking at the passage as a whole: What words or phrases speak to you? Is there anything here that is uncomfortable for you?
  • Use your heart and spiritual eyes to know and perceive Jesus with you this week.

 

Prayer:

Jesus,

Open my heart,

Open my eyes

To your presence

In your words and

In the gift of bread.

          Amen.