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. 24:18 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?" 24:19 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, 24:20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him.

24:21 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. 24:22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 24:23 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. 24:24 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."

24:25 Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 24:26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" 24:27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. 24:28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 24:29 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. 24:30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.

24:31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 24:32 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?" 24:33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 24:34 They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" 24:35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

This is the Gospel of the Lord . . . . Praise to you O Christ!

What did you think of the story we just heard?

Drama: JS, G, PK, I, JC, & Pastor Jon=PJ

JS. Hey Gary and all you guys, what did you think of the story we just heard?

G. It's hard to imagine what those disciples would have been feeling since they saw Jesus arrested and then die on the cross.

JC. I don't know about you guys but I think the two Disciples would have been really Afraid.

PK. Afraid of What?

JC. Like afraid that following Jesus didn't really mean anything. Cause if he just stayed in the tomb, then his life would not have gone much further.

JS. I can't imagine people not finding meaning in Jesus Life – like all the Miracles he did and how he Changed People's Lives every day! Like the woman who came to him and begged that her daughter would be made well. –Jesus just spoke a Word, and the child was made well!! I'll bet she'd never forget Jesus!

PK. I Wonder, . . . What would Our Lives be Like if Jesus Had Not Risen from the Dead, or if he Did not appear to the Disciples like in the Emmaus Road Story??

I. I don't think we'd be celebrating Christmas!

JS. Why would you say that?

I. I just think that if Jesus had not Risen from the Dead, People wouldn't have remembered his birth or paid much attention to the rest of his life or the stories he told.

JC. I'd still be listening to Jesus!!

G. Wanna Bet??

JC. Your On!! I'll take you money for sure!

PK. How are you going to Bet on How you'd be if Jesus hadn't Risen from the dead? The whole idea doesn't sound very Christian to me!!

JS. I think that if Jesus had not Been Raised by God the Father, the whole World would Fall apart.

PK. If Jesus wasn't Risen from the dead, We'd Have No Hope,

People would hurt much more when a family member died. The World would be a Much Sadder Place.

JC. I think that death would be much more frightening, because it would be so FINAL.

I. What do you mean, much more FINAL?

JS. He means that if Jesus was not Raised from the dead, then people would see death as an End to Everything, but That's NOT What We Believe!

G. I'm thankful that Jesus appeared to his disciples like in today's lesson. These stories are the proof we have that God Raised Jesus from the dead.

I. It's kind of weird how the people walking down Emmaus Road didn't even recognize Jesus when He was walking right beside them.

PK. Maybe it's because they just didn't have the faith or even the Words of Scripture like we do .. . they were just responding to things as they happened.

PJ. Maybe that's a lot like us today. Usually in life, We Don't See everything that's really Happening – like "Right Now," we don't, by our normal senses, see anything special. But Jesus could be sitting "Right Here" or "Right There" in the First Pew, and we wouldn't even know it was him! The Lord can do things we won't understand, but he is patient and wants us to learn to seek him always.

JC. I think I'd recognize him if He was walking right beside me!

G. No you wouldn't!

JC. Would TOO!

JS. Ok you guys . . . none of us knows if we'd recognize Jesus or not. These two Disciples had spent time with Jesus before he was crucified . . . they knew the Lord personally. Now he is Raised from the Dead, and . . . I think his appearance was just a little different. He was in a Glorified Body.

PK. Seems like the main point of the Gospel is that they recognized Jesus when he Broke the Bread and served them.

I. Isn't that what we do when we take the Holy Communion?

G. Yea, that's one of the most Special Times We know that Jesus is with us and he is here to give us of his Eternal Life.

JS. I think Jesus wants to reveal himself to all people. It doesn't matter if your walking down the road or shopping at the Mall or studying for Algebra, The Risen Christ can reveal himself to us at any time in many ways. Maybe that's why we say, He is Lord of All!

PJ. I agree, Jesus can come to us in so many ways we'd never expect. Like, it could be that one day, some of you are scientists. You might be working in your lab, or on your computer and suddenly have a revelation of God! Scientifically, God is revealing his glory to us more and more every day. People who study space are learning things never known before, people who study medicine or the human body are finding things out that we never thought were possible, but God has known these things all along. We're in for many exciting things as he Reveals new truths about the Universe and Creation. . . . I sometimes feel like I am far away from God, but there are certain times when we know God is near–very near. I have felt Christ's presence in the room when people are dying. This is real exerience.

I. . . . . . What did that feel like?

P.J. There is a kind of quiet peace that is present. You can't really describe it, this is Holy Space, . . . or we might call it Sacred Time. God is present there. Christ is very close. You can't see him, but in a Spiritual way, you sense God's closeness, the Holy Spirit's hovering unseen. It's quiet, but peaceful.

PK. If we didn't have the Resurrection, would this be possible? Could anyone face death with assurance if Jesus didn't rise from the dead?

P.J. I don't want to say anything is impossible, because with God, all things are Possible, but as we know from our Christian Faith: Christ IS raised from the dead. He is the First Fruit – the First Person to be raised and because he is Risen. We are never without Hope!

JC. People who don't know about Jesus being raised – they don't know this Hope we have . . .

JS. That's definitely True. They're like people living in the dark. They might be good people who do good things, or they might be bad, but the sad thing is they don't know about God's Gift Given through Raising Jesus from the dead.

PK. Maybe that's why they do bad stuff like drinking or drugs – they don't know the Easter Joy God has given for the whole World.

I. I guess we should tell everyone about Jesus being raised from the Dead.

JC. Yea, just like the Early Disciples did when they Saw Jesus as he broke the bread. I Wonder why Jesus disappeared as soon as they recognized him that day after walking Emmaus Road together??

G. Maybe because the LORD Knew that if he withdrew, the Disciples would Run to tell others "HE IS RISEN!" So he disappeared . . . and then they became Messengers of Hope as they ran to Jerusalem.

JS. I hope we all can speak of This Hope we have in Jesus. It's not everyday that your eyes get opened, and you realize Jesus is walking right beside you or that he's here in the Breaking of Bread or Wine outpoured.

PK. I'm glad we could talk about our faith like this. It helps to speak of Christ, because He is Living In Each One of Us.

PJ. Luther said we're each like "little Christs" to one another. When we share what we believe and even when we talk about what we struggle with, Jesus comes along beside of us and is here to give us Wisdom and Meaning for our Lives. When we think we don't have faith, that's when we Grow in faith. Remember that Jesus is in your life even when it seems you're on your own. He comes to give us his Peace and Light and the Hope of Eternal Life.

PJ. Let's Pray Together:

All: Lord Jesus, just as you revealed yourself to the disciples along the Emmaus Road, so enable us to experience the Wonder of your Eternal Presence in our own lives. May we always be Children of Light Wherever we go -- Whatever we do. In your name we pray.

AMEN.