Humans Desire to Ascend…But To What?

 It amazes me how much of the truth of our faith, the truth of God’s Plan, finds echoes, misleading and often tragic, in the world around us. 

There is a historic painting (there are a lot of historic paintings) of the Ascension of Jesus.  He is rising up into the sky.  I wish I could cite the artist in the one that has been converted into the post-modern 'artform' (Gen X snob here) of the meme.  Jesus is ascending and the caption reads “Help me you deleted for good taste...I am being kidnapped by aliens!”

I did try to track the meme down on Google, only to find that there are a lot of historic paintings of the Ascension that have been turned into a LOT of memes.  One had the caption and the soundtrack of NSYNC’s “Bye, Bye, Bye.”

There is a dark side to ‘ascending’.  In 1997, 39 members of the Heaven’s Gate cult were found dead in New Mexico, apparently seeking to ascend in conjunction with aliens at the approach of comet Hale-Bopp. 

I do not know how many times I have heard the expression in various media forms of someone making the observation “That is some next level deleted for good taste.”  Ascending being the rising up to the next level (however that might be defined).

There is so much fuss about what makes us human in discussions about our DNA, the biological building blocks of how we were created.  Apparently, there is talk of being able to ascend, rise up, gain some superior level, potentially, if we were to properly “activate” certain apparently inactive parts of our DNA.  So...a lot of ways 'up' apparently.

Maybe we can tweak the language a little, maybe speak of a spiritual DNA?  Common traits or aspirations of being human beings?  One of them is to ‘ascend’ (however that might be defined).  It might be defined as ‘transcending’, isn’t that what a lot of illicit drugs promise?  A ‘transcendent’ experience?  Or we seek to 'raise our station' ascend by the accumulation of 'wealth', be that stuff or prestige or honor or something.  Which leads how often to those in a self-defined 'ascended' station using their wealth and power in attempting to keep others from 'rising above their station’?

There are religious practices that are said to allow someone to ‘ascend’ to a higher level.  There is the cliché of pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps.  There have been eugenic programs that have sought to create Uber-people (people who are bred to be superior to others, this is not the creation of ride-share drivers).  It has been the subtext of some of my favorite comic books, mutants with ‘super-powers’ versus those without who fear them.

Even in a sinful world, the truths of our faith are present, though changed and twisted by sin. 

The truth is that ascension finds its basis in Our Story.  Jesus prepares the way for us.  In His death and resurrection, He has borne the punishment for our sins, opened the way to forgiveness and renewal with the gift of salvation for all who call upon His name.  This Sunday, we remember that He has ascended for us.  But His work goes on, through all of us.  He continues with us, in the Spirit.  In His time, He will descend once again, to walk among us once more.  On that day, God will gather we who are God’s children and we too shall ascend.  In His time, Jesus will come to lead us home.

Trying To Figure Out What’s Going On…

I can’t find the Legion Post. There is a sign. FW Grigg Post 68, of the American Legion, and an arrow. Into a neighborhood.  If there are more signs, I have missed them, and so far, no Post.  The closest association is a sign for a Veteran’s breakfast at the Community Center at the far end of the street.

I can’t fold Jesus into the new situation. He’s leaving, ascending to be precise. But his replacement is the Holy Spirit. Tagged as God’s Promise by Jesus, so there is authority here.  But God the All-Powerful is calling home the Risen Savior and sending a Spirit, Holy but still a Spirit, and it sends my mind spinning.

So what is the point of finding the Post?  It is a focal point for prayer.  We have just come off Memorial Day.  I have a devotional practice of going to places where prayers of particular focus are appropriate.  Outside the Police and Fire Departments are points of focus to pray for our First Responders.  Outside a school to pray for our children and for education.  At City Hall to pray for our leaders.  For me, this 'point of contact' deepens the experience of prayer.  

So, what’s the point of the Holy Spirit?  Well, Jesus indicates that it is not only important, but central, so there you go.  And the Holy Spirit is God, Trinity-God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit God.  But that was not immediately helpful?  Want something really unhelpful?  I was reading “Perspectives on Pentecost” and the author, an old professor of mine from Seminary, talked about the “Economic Trinity”.  But wait, it gets better, this is to distinguish it from the “Ontological Trinity”.  I feel my eyes glazing over just to think about it.  These would probably not be steps in an outline for a Trinity Sunday sermon...   

But it is necessary to nail this down.  It is what we are here for.  The disciples asked after the Kingdom of Israel, Jesus told them that was NOT their thing.  Rather, it was wait for the Spirit, and go.  So, what is the Spirit, I gotta know.   

So, why not ask for help in finding the Post?  Use the internet.  Google Maps says it is at the Post Office, the other way up Maple Avenue from the church and where the sign is located.    

So, why not ask for help in figuring out the Holy Spirit?  Well, Dr. Gaffin did in that same book, “Perspectives on Pentecost”.  It has to do with the bigger plan that Jesus told the disciples was not theirs to know.  Jesus is ascending to heaven for us.  That is part of Our Story.  It foreshadows the End, when Jesus descends from heaven for us. But we've not been 'read in' to what all that means.

However, two things have kicked in.  The first is that the Holy Spirit is a fundamental upgrade to the disciples to take over what Jesus began.  The second is that Jesus is the upgrade that is the Holy Spirit.  God the Son, the human, has a part to play in God’s Plan for us.  In the meantime, Jesus continues to be present for us, but in the Spirit, because God has not left us alone. 

I still haven’t figured out where the Post is.  But I shall.  There are a lot of resources as yet untapped.  Trying to embrace the God-given reality that the Holy Spirit is Jesus indwelling me?  Still working on that one too.  But we have a Bible-full of resources on that one. 

What I know thus far is that the division of doubt between Jesus and Holy Spirit, that is a diversion of the devil.  But Jesus has carried me through that, and opened my eyes to see how much more can be done in His Name.  

Peace

Pastor Peter 

Jesus Ascended For Us: Our Story Continues

Our text for Sunday is Acts 1: 1-12, focusing on the ascension of our Lord Jesus.

Ascension Day is a rather underrated holiday in the Christian Calendar.  Falls forty days after Easter, and ten days before Pentecost.  Which plops in onto a Thursday.  We do better when things fall on a Sunday. 

For Luke, the ascension is the crossover event from book one, the Gospel of Luke, and book two, the Acts of the Apostles.  That makes sense because if the marketing folks had gotten involved, book one would not be called the Gospel of Luke, but the Acts of Jesus. 

There are points of interest in these verses of the ascension to be highlighted.  One is the renewed Promise of the Father.  The baptism of John (by water) is going to be ‘upgraded’ by this Promise, to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 

The second is the expectations that the disciples are carrying in all of this.  Their question is “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel?”

I am challenged by the language of the ‘kingdom of Israel’.  Is that synonymous with the 'kingdom of heaven' or 'kingdom of God', the language I am far more familiar with in the gospels?  With the "Ultimate Bible Study" Jesus has been leading for this past forty days, maybe the language of the 'kingdom of Israel' is a prequel to the expansion of the kingdom according to Jesus' word in the gospels? 

A third point of interest began as a misconstruing of Jesus words on my part.  My first thought was Jesus’ answer to this 'kingdom of Israel' question indicated there was knowledge the Father had that He did not.  “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.”  But read that carefully, Jesus is not sharing that He is ignorant of the timeline.  Perhaps this is the Biblical precedent of information shared on a ‘need to know’ basis, as in, we don't 'need to know'.

In fact, that is not Jesus’ concern.  There is a great line that says “when someone speaks to you, everything before the ‘but’ doesn’t matter”. 

So, look at the full response of Jesus to the disciples and their question: “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”   

There’s the mission.  The Holy Spirit is bringing power and they are Jesus’ witnesses according to the geographical steps of Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth (which actually is one way to structure the book of Acts).

From there, they are caught gawking as the Lord is lifted up and taken from their sight by a cloud.  Final word comes from a couple of angels, ‘two men in white robes’.  Is this the same role as those who were at the empty tomb, divine narrators to fill in the gaps of the story that unfolds?

“This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

He ascended for us.  Why?  To begin the mission.  To unleash the Holy Spirit.  The disciples have their work and we have ours.  The mission concludes at the finale of Our Story, when Jesus returns, for us.  Then, we will have all our questions answered? 

Peace, pastor pete.

Sermon May 24, 2025 Luke 24: 36-53 “The Grand Opening!” Rev. Peter Hofstra

 

            When we last left our couple from Emmaus, they were hotfooting it back to Jerusalem because they’d seen Jesus.  Well, they’d taken an extended hike with Jesus, had the most amazing Bible Study ever in the history of Bible studies, then cued in “They told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.”

            What better way for Jesus to enter the scene than with a JUMP SCARE.  Jesus appears with “Peace be with you.”  They thought they were seeing a ghost, so Jesus’ greeting has a great double meaning.  One, Peace and two, Calm Down, its only me.  There are parallels to the story of Doubting Thomas here, but with a different focus.  Not that Jesus appeared, but what was he?    

            Why would they think he’s a ghost?  There is Old Testament precedent for a ghost story.  When the witch of Endor conjured up the ghost of Samuel for King Saul. (1 Samuel 28).  And it’s not the first time the disciples mistook Jesus for a ghost.  That was when, through a dark and stormy night, Jesus walked on water toward the disciples trapped in their little boat. 

            What I really like is how Jesus apparently proves he is not a ghost.  Not by showing himself, not by letting the disciples lay hands on the wounds, no, he eats an early version of the filet o fish sandwich.  It is kind of a Bible Ghostbusters Supernatural Scooby Doo thing.  I wonder if this connector passage is here deliberately, divine inspiration for Luke, because of what is coming next.

            This comes next: 

“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶ and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day ⁴⁷ and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

            Jesus opens their minds to the Ultimate Bible Study, gives them the Great Commission, Lukan style, with orders to sit tight till the Holy Ghost comes upon them, the passage then concludes with the Ascension of our Lord Jesus.

And this is the close of the first book of Luke.  He does write a sequel, and the book of the Acts of the Apostles will bring us back through this material once again. 

            So, Jesus opens the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms to their minds, including what we know as the Holy Spirit.  It is promised by the Father, but what is the Holy Spirit?  Pentecost is coming, this is crucial.  God the All-Powerful.  God the Human being.  Those fit my frame of reference.  But God the indwelling?  Sharing a metaphoric apartment in my mind or soul or something?  This is the power of God that will fill the disciples at the Grand Opening of the Church.  Jesus opened the Bible to them.  What does that bible, our Old Testament, actually say about this Spirit of the Lord connecting with humans?  

            How about the man who received God’s law for the people, how about Moses himself?  Moses spent how long on the mountain with the Lord?  Brought down the Book of Exodus, not simply the Ten commandments, and brought the Spirit enough to share.  We read in Numbers 11, starting at verse 24, when things were getting bogged down in the details of leadership, “So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord; and he gathered seventy elders of the people…then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and too some of the spirit that was on Moses and put it on the seventy elders, and when the spirit rested on them, they prophesied.”  So the Spirit of the Lord can be spread around.  But what kind of power are we talking about? 

            It includes superstrength?  And a temper to match?  We have Samsom.  Bible’s strongest man and the single greatest biblical argument for anyone out there who does NOT want to get a haircut.  In Judges 15, we read that Samson is tied up by his own people and left for the Philistines to come and kill him.  Then, in verse 14, “the Philistines came shouting to meet him and the spirit of the Lord rushed on him, and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that had caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands.  Then he found the jawbone of a donkey…and he killed a thousand men.”  In a world where the disciples are in lockdown with fear of the Romans, this Spirit of the Lord carries some promise.

            Then there is the power of the actual message of repentance and forgiveness.  Who is the greatest prophet in their Bible? (Old Testament).  Honestly, probably Elijah, but the first prophet with his own book is Isaiah.  But the Spirit of the Lord is there too.  In Chapter 61, beginning in verse 1, “the spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance to our Lord; To comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion--to give them a Garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a false spirit.”  Isaiah has some serious prophetic chops when it comes to Jesus, including Christmas, the passage of Jesus the Suffering Servant.  Lends weight to the power of the Spirit of the Lord. 

            In Lord of the Rings, Aragorn was Isildor’s heir, proof of his authority.  In the gospel, Jesus is David’s heir, proof of HIS authority, heir to the Warrior King to whom the promise was given that David would have an heir to sit on the king’s throne in Israel forever.  Which Jesus does.  And where do things begin for David?  1 Samuel 16:13, “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward…”  Want to know more?  David’s story continues to the end of First Samuel, all the way through Second Samuel, into the first chapters of First Kings.

            But then there is my favorite, two guys by the names of Bezalel and Oholiab.  They are charged with the building of the tabernacle, God’s home, the portable precursor to the temple built by Solomon.  The Lord said, in Exodus 31, “I have called by name Bezalel…and I filled him with divine spirit, with ability, intelligence, and knowledge in every kind of craft, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones we're setting, and in carving wood, and every kind of craft. Moreover, I have appointed with him Oholiab… and I have given skill to all the skillful, so that they may make all that I have commanded you...”

            The reason they are my favorites is that the Spirit of the Lord filled them to build the house of the Lord.  The house of the Lord is not simply the tabernacle, and later the temple.  It is Jesus himself.  He’s the one who claimed that the temple would be destroyed and rebuilt in three days (the temple of his body). 

            I like these guys, showing the Spirit of the Lord in concrete action.  The other ones, Moses, Samson, Isaiah, and David, they are examples of great and powerful men whose capacity was amplified in the power of the Spirit of the Lord.  But these two, Bezalel and Oholiab, they were filled with the Spirit of the Lord to put everything together.  To make it beautiful by divine standards, a cut above simple human capacities.  In Exodus, they are craftsmen to build the tabernacle, but today, that Spirit invests each one of us with the power of the Lord that we all bring our best to build God’s House.

 

            Jesus said, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day  that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”  The Spirit of the Lord, who we see in Moses, Samson, Isaiah, David, Bezalel, Oholiab, and in so many others across the Bible. 

            But let me add one more piece, looking back to Our Story.  The disciples would have seen, as we can see, how the Spirit of the Lord came upon those heroes of the Bible they knew.  But, they, and we, have also lived the power of seeing the Spirit of the Lord come down.  At his baptism, the Spirit of the Lord came down upon Jesus.  And I think that went pretty well.

            The Spirit that came upon the heroes of the Old Testament is the Spirit of the Lord that came upon Jesus is the Spirit of the Lord that comes upon us, the people of the church.

The work started in Jerusalem, today we recognize that this work has reached Merchantville.  As we approach the moment when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, we are celebrating more than just the foundation of the church.  We are celebrating Jesus with us.  The Spirit is the connection, not something brand new from the grocery shelves of Heaven.  We begin to see the power of the Spirit as presented across the Old Testament.  And the examples we use are those where the Spirit is named.  How many other people show God’s love and power without having the Spirit attached to their names.

We have the Spirit of the Lord upon our Lord Jesus himself, Jesus was baptized for us.  Not just a water baptism, something far more.  The power of God’s Spirit upon Him.  And now, we are preparing for that same Spirit to come upon us.  God’s power, Jesus’ power, the full expression of salvation, love, grace, forgiveness, joy, and wonder from across the Bible.  To us, in the full weight and measure as we seek to bring the heart of God to all generations of people in the heart of Merchantville.

Amen.

Ghost Stories in the Bible?

            I do not normally associate humor with the Bible.  But I cannot help but smile when I read the opening of our passage for Sunday.  It is the end of Luke 24, Jesus appeared on the Road to Emmaus.  Cleopas and his unnamed companion (Mary) have rushed back to Jerusalem to share the Good News. 

            They have seen Jesus, He revealed himself in the breaking of the bread.  And our story begins.

            Jesus is simply there.  The movie version would certainly jazz it up a little, invest in some special effects.  But there is little doubt it was the Jump Scare.  The disciples were “startled and terrified”.  But then, to be fair, in the light of the testimony of Cleopas and Mary, back from Emmaus; in light of the testimony of Simon, to whom Jesus had already appeared, they came to a logical and faithfully deduced conclusion-well, they came to a very human conclusion.  Jesus was a ghost.

            I might be reading into it some, but I see a play on words of Jesus being seen as a ghost and the Holy Ghost that the disciples shall receive on Pentecost.       

            Jesus replies, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?”  Is it possible that this is polite Bible language for Jesus looking around and saying, essentially, "What is wrong with all of you?"  

            So Jesus attempts to use physical reality to change their minds.  “Look at my hands and my feet.”  See, its me!  Touch the places of the wounds and see.  Ghosts do not have flesh and blood!  I do!!”  And they want to believe, but verse 41 tells us, “Yet for all their joy they were still disbelieving and wondering…”  Its like the words to that Buffalo Springfield song, “Paranoia strikes deep…into your life it will creep…”

            They are pleased, they are joyful, but…ghost.  Luke doesn’t write it, but I can see Jesus rolling his eyes.  But then we get an interesting lesson on the view of the paranormal in the time of Jesus.  To disprove the accusation of 'ghost', visual evidence is not conclusive, nor is tactile evidence.  Can't trust what you see, nor what you touch.  

            But apparently, there is a definitive way to show that you are not a ghost.  For some reason, the solution seems so very Presbyterian to me.  You have to eat something.  That is definitive.  Some cookies, a brownie, something?  Turns out they had broiled fish on hand.  Because apparently everybody knows that ghosts don't eat (???).

            Superstitions are not new.  This is not even the first time Jesus was thought to be a ghost.  When he was walking on the water toward them on the Sea of Galilee, in the nighttime, under stormy conditions, white against the blackness surrounding him.  Does not take much for me to admit that I probably would have thought 'ghost' as well.

            Silly superstitions are not new either.  What happens here is not a scene we might find in a horror movie so much as an episode of Scooby Doo.  At the end, the "not" ghost would say something like "And I would have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for you meddling kids catching me eating a hamburger."   

            So what do we do with this passage?  Do we build an elaborate theological construct concerning the supernatural and the Christian faith based on these verses?  

            Or do we instead appreciate once again how the Bible, and the gospels in particular, have this amazing capacity to catch the reality of the human condition?  In all its foibles and frailties.  Even in the broken expectations of Jesus' followers, they "know" people don’t come back from the dead.  And when they are left to their broken human devices, the disciples come to the conclusion of "ghost". 

            Thanks be to our great King and Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ, that He goes on to give them (and us) the truth of a much more satisfying, and eternal, explanation.  And thank you Lord Jesus for being there for them (and us) in our weakness and showing all of us that you are the way, the truth, and the life.

Amen.

Pastor Peter

Walking to Emmaus, Walking in Merchantville

            It struck me as I walked this morning that the folks walking to Emmaus were trying to work through the implications of a life, faith, and world-changing event.  In a car culture, it is easy to forget that, to move around, God created us to walk.  There is power in walking.  The church is well placed for that.  We are practically on the cardinal points of the compass, here at the intersection of W. Maple and Centre.  Taking a walk, blends the question of 'who we are' with that of 'where we are'.  And since it is good to have a purpose in life, I like to seek out new places that serve coffee, a treat for the road every so often.

            Going south will take you 'down' Centre till you get to one of the more intriguing ‘traffic circles’ in New Jersey.  Cherry Hill starts 'down' there somewhere, as the route shifts to the southeast and the road becomes Chapel Avenue.  I usually get as far as the Country Club before turning around (because it is uphill coming back and I am old-ish).  Along the way there is a natural coffee stop for the minister-type at the “Hallowed Grounds Coffee Company”.

            Go north, 'up' Centre, this follows traditional 'map etiquette'.  Takes me right up through the downtown, eventually crossing over into Pennsauken, ending at Cove Road.  My favorite seasonal detail is the ‘infected zombie enter-at-your-own risk’ tiny home seated on a pedestal on the corner of Centre and Park during the season when the town renames itself “Monsterville”.  While disconcerting, it appeals to my love of the contrast when it is reinvented as a tiny North Pole cottage, all candy canes and snow for the Christmas Season.  For the coffee people, heading north, hang a quick right at the Merch Mile pedestrian rout and get a cuppa at The Station. 

            Heading west on W Maple, that puts us on the longest straightaway through Merchantville, pretty much out to Rt 130.  Took my coffee self into Melo’s Food Market.  There is a sandwich-making operation in the store, so I will be taking my appetite back there at some point.  The real fun for me came after, going over the maps to determine the half-block of Pennsauken that lies at the end of Merchantville before W Maple turns into Federal Street in Camden.  

            Going east on W Maple, once I crossed Centre Street, I was actually on East Maple.  But that is only in Merchantville.  Get to the Pennsauken border headed east and the East Maple becomes Maple Maple.  Have not found my coffee place out that way as yet, but found good company and a great haircut at The Barber’s Lounge.  Shout out to Jibril, owner and operator.

            But now here is a mystery to verify with the street signs next time I go west on Maple.  Is the half block in Pennsauken West Maple or Maple Maple?  The cartographers of Google say 'west maple', but inquiring minds want to know...

            I thank the Lord that none of these walks have included ‘crisis-point’ moments as Cleopas and Mary (I like to think) had on the way to Emmaus.  But these are observations of the community that the Lord has blessed our church to serve, opportunities to contemplate the amazing world our Lord has created, and times of prayer and preparation.  In a culture of vehicles that move us ever faster, it is a blessing to be able to slow down and take in the world as God created us to. 

Peace

Pastor Pete

 

Who Did Jesus Go Walking With to Emmaus?

            Our passage this Sunday is the walk to Emmaus.  It is in Luke, Luke 24:13-35.  Two guys walking…but the Scripture is more ambiguous than that, ‘two of them’…  So who are they?  We know one, named in the text, Cleopas.  He seems to do most of the talking with Jesus in the unfolding tale.

            So here are a couple of other details to add to the Bible stew today.

 Cleopas is not in the 12 named disciples, but his name does seem to appear elsewhere.  Specifically, in the gospel of John (John 19:25), some of the women who were gathered at the site of the crucifixion are named.  One name pops, Mary, wife of Clopas.  Cleopas versus Clopas…maybe like Ann versus Anne?  Same person?  Married to Mary? Toss it in the stew.

            Now, there were two of them.  One is named, one is not.  It is the not-named person that might attract attention.  Women are often left out of the naming in the Bible.  Sexist, but “things were different back then”, so we work with what we have.   But what if the second person, not named, follows this tradition?  Not named because of a self-identity of ‘she’?  And a man and woman, walking together, unchaperoned…Mary, the wife of Cl(e)opas?  Toss that into the stew.

            Then consider the discussion.  Cleopas reviews what ‘is known’ to date.  “…some women of our group astounded us…they did not find the body there…told us they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive…some of us went...found it as the women had said…but did not see him…”

            So what if May was one of ‘some women of our group astounded us’?  What if Cleopas was seeking to protect her/distance himself from visions of angels?  Again, something to stew on.  The two of them were ‘talking and discussing’ on this walk to Emmaus, this might bring a different edge to their tones and discussion.  She got a vision, he did not.  Perhaps we have in miniature, husband and wife, reflecting the tension and hope and fear of the whole community of Jesus' believers.  Tomb-side angelic visions but no reports (to this point) of the resurrected Jesus.  And while we know it, Jesus is using his Jesus-powers so that ‘their eyes were kept from recognizing him’. 

            If this were a situation comedy called "The Disciples", the punchline of the episode might be one of the biggest "I Told You So's" in the Bible, Mary looking sharply at Cleopas after Jesus used more Jesus-powers to disappear from their sight.

            But the true 'punchline' is in verse 32.  “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”  God’s heart touching their hearts?  Hearts on fire.  How incredible it is what Jesus has done for us.

Peace,

Pastor pete