HE IS RISEN! On the Road to Emmaus (May 11th)

Season of the Church Year: Easter (Liturgical Color: 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 Magdalene 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 along 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.”