Monthly Column

Dear Members and Friends of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church,

The disciples on the Road to Emmaus did not recognize the resurrected Jesus when he joined them on their journey. In the gospel of Luke we read that “their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him” (24:16). Now that could simply be a Greek way of saying “They did not recognize Him.” After all, when Jesus first spoke to Mary outside of the tomb she thought He was the gardener (Jn. 20:15). And the disciples, fishing on the Sea of Galilee, did not comprehend at first that it was Jesus who was calling to them from the shore (21:4).

Why didn’t they recognize Jesus? The resurrected Jesus? Their friend and teacher, their Savior and Lord; their God?

Well, they were not looking for Him. He was not supposed to be alive. He had been crucified and laid in the tomb. Already in their hearts and souls and minds the death of Christ was the reality. The new normal.

So even when He appeared before them, they did not recognize Him. Their eyes literally were prevented from recognizing Jesus, we could say, by the very fact of His death—witnessed, experienced and accepted.

Of course, we have all experienced the same situation. The classic instance of such an occurrence is when we were in elementary school and ran into our teacher at the store! What a mind-blowing experience that was! What was she doing there? She did not belong there! She belonged at school, in our classroom, waiting for us when we arrived in the morning, and waving to us when we left in the afternoon!

How could should be in a grocery store? Buying groceries? It did not make any sense at all!

And what else can not make any sense at all? Our Christian life outside of church, apart from worship, away from our brothers and sisters in Christ. How are to recognize ourselves as Christians in the every-day? Where Christians are not necessarily expected to be seen?

Admittedly, it is not to difficult to “shift gears” between our life at church, our life at home, and our life at work. Yes, in many ways such gear-shifting must take place. But to the extent that we cease to see Jesus in ourselves? The resurrected Jesus? Our Lord and Savior?

That is our post-Easter challenge! Having confessed and celebrated the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from the dead—the singular event which demonstrated our justification before our Father in heaven (Rom. 4:25)—let us daily confess His resurrection in our hearts and so in our lives. Wherever we find ourselves to be, let us find Jesus within ourselves through our confession of His name and our service to our neighbor.

Your Servant in Christ,
Pastor Strawn