Season of the Church
Year: Easter (white)
Story in Scripture: Luke
24: 1-35
As we continue through the Easter season, it is so
wonderful to consider all the different ways that Jesus reconciled with his
disciples. They were so distraught, confused, and afraid. Jesus knew that each
of them needed to be met in a unique way to reassure them of God’s promise in
their lives. Over the next few weeks, we will learn about Jesus’ appearance to
his friends and followers at the tomb, along the road to Emmaus, and in the
Upper Room. We will also learn about the ways that Jesus helped his disciples
(particularly Peter) to understand their own actions and choices on his last
days. Today’s lesson focused on Jesus’ revelation to the disciples along the
road to Emmaus. Just like in the story of Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdelene
at the tomb, his disciples do not realize that it is their Savior until the
right time. Luke explains that they walked along the road with a stranger, who
shared great wisdom with them about Jesus’ death. They reflect later that their
hearts burned with passion to hear is words. Yet they didn’t realize who it
really was. As they invite the stranger to dine with them, his true identity is
revealed as he breaks the bread. What a surprise!! Although we didn’t go into
great detail about this in our classroom discussion, I encourage you to talk
with your child about the ways that God reveals himself to us through the
personhood of Jesus and through the love of our friends and family. Frequently,
we may feel that we are alone in our struggles (as perhaps the disciples were
feeling), yet God meets us and walks alnog with us, even when we don’t realize
that he is there.
Guiding Questions for
Discussion:
Now
I wonder how Jesus’ friends felt when Jesus died before Easter?
I
wonder how they knew Jesus was alive? Or how they knew the person sitting at
the table was Jesus?
I
wonder what it felt like to recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread?
I
wonder if you have ever been close to bread like this?
I
wonder how it feels to know Jesus is alive?
I
wonder what it was like to tell others that Jesus was alive?
I
wonder how we can celebrate that Jesus is risen?
Prayer:
“Father, I love you and am
so glad that you are here with us during all our struggles and in the dark
times. Help us to love one another and to remember that you walk along the
“road” beside us, even when we are confused. Amen.”
