Recognizing Jesus (Luke 24: 13-31)

Today is Sunday, April 26. The third Sunday of Easter.

Two weeks ago, on Easter Sunday, the lectionary presented us with a story about Mary Magdalene, who met the risen Jesus at the tomb, but didn’t recognize him. She thought he was the gardener.

Today the lectionary presents us another scripture in which some of Jesus’ followers fail to recognize him. 

Luke 24:13-31

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.

These two followers of Jesus - Cleopas, and the one whose name we don’t know - didn’t recognize Jesus. Just like Mary Magdalene didn’t recognize Jesus. 

Can you think of other Bible stories where people aren’t recognized by someone who knew them well?

There is the story of Isaac… When Isaac was an old man, he knew it was time to pass on the family blessing to his first-born son Esau. But Jacob - his second-born son - showed up and fooled his father into thinking he was actually his brother, and Jacob ended up stealing the blessing. I read this story and I wonder: how could a father - even a father losing his eyesight - not recognize his own son?

Then there is the story of Jacob’s own sons. He had twelve sons, but one of them - Joseph - was sold into slavery by the other eleven. Joseph was taken in chains to Egypt,  but over time Joseph rose out of slavery and became second in command to Pharaoh. And years later, when his eleven brothers came to Egypt, they were brought before Joseph, and even though Joseph knew right away who they were, his brothers didn’t recognize him.

And yes, time had passed, and Joseph had changed, but he was their brother; how is it that they didn’t recognize him?

The most shocking thing is that in both of these stories, the person who is not recognized is a close family member. A son. A brother.

Jesus wasn’t recognized by Mary. Jesus wasn’t recognized by the two disciples traveling to Emmaus. They were close to Jesus. Jesus called them friends. He called them brothers and sisters. But they didn’t recognize him.

And Cleopas and his companion walked all the way to Emmaus - they walked seven miles - and Jesus walked with them for a good part of that, and they were talking and listening… yet they did not recognize him.

When they reached Emmaus, it was late. Jesus was about to continue his journey, but the other two invited him to stay with them. 

This right here is an example of hospitality. Hospitality in the ancient world. Hospitality in the kingdom of God. A good person who befriends a traveler will always offer hospitality.

We see a great example of this in the story of Lot from the book of Genesis. Lot was an immigrant living in a city called Sodom. One day Lot saw two men approaching the city. It was evening, and Lot was a good man, and as an immigrant he knew the challenges of being in a new city or a new land, so he invited the two travelers to stay at his house for the night. The two men said, “No, we’ll just sleep outside,” but Lot insisted.

So the men went with Lot, and Lot fed them and made them comfortable. But later, a crowd of people came to Lot’s house and started banging at the door, demanding that Lot send his two guests out to them. This crowd wanted to express their displeasure at having these foreigners in their town by ravaging them in the worst possible way.

But Lot had offered hospitality to these two travelers, and they were under his protection. So Lot refused to send them out. The crowd got mad at Lot, and said, “Get out of the way, immigrant! Now we’ll deal with you the same way we’re going to deal with them!”

Well, it turns out that these two men in Lot's house were really messengers from God. Angels. Or, perhaps some human manifestation of God. And they rescued Lot and his family from the crowd of evildoers.

Now, who knew at the beginning of this story that these two men were really divine beings? No one recognized them as such. The crowd didn’t recognize them as divine beings, and wanted to treat them harshly. Lot also didn’t recognize them as divine beings, yet he treated them graciously, with compassion and kindness. They looked only human to him, but he treated them as if they were holy, without even knowing that they actually were.

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus do the same for Jesus. They treat him graciously, with compassion and kindness, even before they recognize who he is. And that is the lesson for us. Treat every person as Jesus. Treat every person as a holy, divine being. Because, in a very real way… they are. 

It wasn’t until after they had shown such great hospitality and welcome and kindness to Jesus, that their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. After welcoming him and preparing a meal for him, they honored Jesus by inviting him to give the blessing for the meal.

 So Jesus took the bread, lifted it up, and he blessed it and broke it, and gave it to them… and the way he did, it looked so familiar… 

And they remembered Jesus breaking bread like that in the house of a pharisee, and they remembered Jesus breaking bread like that when he fed 5000 in the wilderness, and they remembered Jesus breaking bread like that with his disciples…

And then:  their eyes were opened, and they knew it was him. They finally saw him… really saw him.

Yet he had been there with them the whole time. 

Jesus has always been with you, the whole time - your whole life - even when you thought you were alone. Even when you didn't recognize him. 

When you walk that lonely road, Jesus walks it with you.

When you cry tears in the night, Jesus is beside you, and he hears your cries, and he shares your sorrow. 

When you encounter any person who is in need of compassion, or hospitality, or a place to stay… Jesus is there, before you, in your presence.

There is another story in scripture, about people failing to recognize Jesus. Jesus himself tells this story in the 25th chapter of Matthew. It’s in the form of a parable, in which a king is separating the righteous people from the unrighteous.  

The king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” 

Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” 

And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” 

Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” 

Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” 

Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’

A lot of people today claim to be followers of Jesus. But many of them wouldn’t recognize Jesus if he came and stood in front of them. 

They fail to show hospitality the way Lot did; or the way Cleopas and his companion did; because they fail to recognize Jesus in their midst.

They fail to care for the least of these, all those who are poor, or sick, or hungry, or imprisoned;... they show no compassion on immigrants and foreigners...; they show no love for the LGBT community. They have no mercy for those who are oppressed. They are blind to their own arrogance, their own racism, their own greed.

They claim to be followers of Jesus, yet fail to recognize Jesus when they see him.

I know many of you are disturbed by news reports of people protesting against stay-at-home orders. And some churches have been meeting despite orders not to. 

All while people are dying from COVID-19. Right now, more people are dying from this than are dying from heart disease, or cancer, or anything else. 

How are we treating them? How are we treating those who are most vulnerable? How are we treating those who care for them - doctors and nurses and other hospital workers?

If we insist that our own liberty is more important - or that the economy is more important - than the lives of those who are sick and the lives of those who care for them, then certainly, we have failed to see Jesus in our brothers and sisters.

News reports say that COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting poor people and people of color. Maybe that’s why people are protesting - because they don’t recognize Jesus in brown or black skin. 

I don’t know. But I do know that I have my own shortcomings when it comes to recognizing Jesus. 

I read the Bible, and I’m surprised by those in scripture who didn’t recognize Jesus when he appeared before them. But maybe I should be more concerned with how many times I have failed to recognize Jesus when he appears before me. In the poor. The sick. The homeless. The imprisoned. The immigrant.

Yet that’s where Jesus is. Among the least of these. May God help us to see and recognize Jesus.