Wednesday: The Road to Emmaus
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 10th of June 2026
It had been an intense few weeks for the two disciples as they replayed in their minds some of the events and conversations they had experienced. The triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the clearing of the temple. The Passover in the upper room. Jesus’ prayers in Gethsemane. Judas’s ugly betrayal. The trial, the mocking, the beating. Jesus’ bruised body hanging on a cross and His final words before He breathed His last as the afternoon sky turned black. The loud rip of the temple curtain. The open graves of the righteous. Gently taking Jesus’ body off the cross and laying Him in the tomb before Sabbath. And then the confusion, discouragement, and questions in the disciples’ minds. How had they gotten it so wrong?
Jesus’ followers were disappointed, discouraged, and confused. This was the greatest setback of their lives. What they didn’t see was that this was merely a moment in the greatest story of all time. As two of them walked on the road to Emmaus, Jesus appeared and walked with them.
Read the conversation in Luke 24:13-27 and think about the two different perspectives: the two followers, and Jesus.
Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com
Once their eyes were opened, the two followers rushed to Jerusalem to share the things that had happened to them on the road (Luke 24:33-35). As Jesus came and stood in their midst, they were terrified. Notice His questions to them: “ ‘Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?’ ” (Luke 24:38, NKJV).
This is also Jesus’ message for us today. Too often, we forget that He walks beside us in our valleys. Too often we don’t recognize Him. Too often we forget that there’s much more to the story. Too often we feel troubled and allow doubts to arise in our hearts, forgetting that Jesus holds our lives securely in His hands. And too often we think we know better than Jesus does about what’s really happening in our lives (Luke 24:18).
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The Bible gives such good counsel about how we as Christians can respond to challenges and setbacks. Take some time to study these short passages: Romans 8:28; Philippians 4:4-13; James 1:2-4,12; and 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. As part of your study, write down three key messages you can share with someone who is facing setbacks right now. Keep 2 Corinthians 1:4 in mind. |
In our modern world we often find ourselves trying to meet deadlines, managing the fallout from catastrophes, working in damage control over broken relationships, or simply trying to solve what appears to be unsolvable. Sometimes, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. That is the time when we need to take a walk.
Cleopas and his unnamed companion disciple had lived through the cusp of Jesus crucifixion. Their idea of the Kingdom of Heaven had hit the wall and they were left concussed. They had invested a lot time and energy in the idea and it was difficult to comprehend and process everything that had happened. They took the road to Emmaus – about 12 km. That is a decent walk. We should remind ourselves that the “fishing” disciples also took a walk. They left Jerusalem and walked (presumably) back to Galilee – 120km. Now that is a really decent walk! They walked back to their old careers.
The disciples had put over three years effort into following Jesus and suddenly their idea of where it was all going hit the wall. It was time to rethink and recover. And one of the best ways to recover is to go for a walk. I won’t tell you how many times during my research years, I hit the wall and had to rethink what I was doing. Walking, away from the source of my problems was something that gave me the energy to make a fresh start. (I can also testify that Sabbath rest was also an important restarter for me during that period of my life too)
The big take away from this idea of “taking a walk” is that during that time, Jesus, through the Holy Spirit can cut through the clutter and debris of our brains and refresh our vision.
Taking a walk does clear our minds, as well as physical labor. Also a mind clearer is what the Holy Spirit through Micah suggested. Micah 6:8. And walk with God, a double blessing, I can walk humbly with our God,for uprightness, and to clear my mind.
There are seasons when we don’t feel that Jesus is close enough; however, He is ever closer than we think. Jesus is right there, just listening. He is present, for He listens. When the sun rose, Jesus Christ rose also. But the thing, fortunately or unfortunately, is that moment was not witnessed by crowds. It was not celebrated with trumpets and a party, as there was no crowd of people shouting with joy. It happened quietly, but in that quietness everything changed forever. That morning rewrote history, and that morning continues providing us with renewed hope. Two disciples are walking away, for they never believed Jesus was now gone. After being crucified and buried, their dreams were now shattered, and perhaps they were just walking away, oblivious of where they were going.
There are those seasons where one has gone through a long season of waiting, a quiet, painful place where one has not told anyone about. Having fasted faithfully, but still… silence. Others around seem to be moving forward, getting breakthroughs, testimonies, and answers to their prayers. It is in such seasons we ask, where is our God? One still wonders, am I in the waiting room? It is in such moments that behind the scenes, Jesus is working in ways we may not see or understand—in building character, strengthening trust, or aligning the right door at the right time. Just because He’s quiet doesn’t mean He’s absent. And just because we have waited doesn’t mean He has forgotten our case.
Jesus walks roads we think are abandoned. He meets us not just in the celebration, but in the confusion. He is there, and we can hold on, as He will never leave or forsake us. The walk to Emmaus wasn’t just a physical journey—it was a walk through grief, disappointment, and confusion. Jesus Himself joined the two disciples on the lonely road. He didn’t wait for them to come back to Him. He didn’t scold them for walking away. He joined them in their pain. He walked alongside them, for Jesus understands that grief clouds our vision and that pain narrows our perspective.
Sometimes we pray, search, question, and yet God feels distant. But what if He’s been walking beside us the whole time? We pray and we intercede, we come with our prayers and petitions, and still we feel no one is listening. From family-related issues, work-related challenges, a right marriage partiner, or even deeper issues like losing a family member or a close friend as we ask questions with nothing seeming to happen—Psalm 34:18 (NIV) says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you,”repeated in the New Testament in Hebrews 13:5 (NIV): “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”
Luke 24 is such a loaded chapter. It just hit me, that we do the chapter a serious disservice when we separate the two parts (sometimes into three) — that is. I had never looked at this chapter in such depth through the lens of “setback” — but wow! There is so much there!
From Luke 24:13, as we pick up from Cleopas and Simon (possibly the second person walking to Emmaus, Luke 24:34), it is clear that they had already received the news from the women that Christ had risen (Luke 24:10). Further, Peter had even confirmed the stories from the women (Luke 24:12). …..But these words are what trouble me in this story: (Luke 24:11).
Luke 24:22–24 even confirms that the two men were part of (Luke 24:9). They had heard and had known that Jesus would rise on the third day, and it had happened, and they had heard about it (Luke 24:21), but did they doubt?
Pause here for a moment. Sit on this thought, and ponder about it!
Disappointment often leads to doubt. Doubt leads to distraction. Distractions can be debilitating, paralyzing, and, most of all, blinding. The truth or the breakthrough might just be next to us; we might have already arrived, but then become distracted by disappointment the moment we begin to doubt. The two men moved seven kilometres away from Jerusalem just when Christ had risen. It is no wonder that Christ had to reach out to them on the road to Emmaus, to open their eyes — and He did. And guess what? Cleopas and Simon immediately returned to Jerusalem, believing again.
I just noticed how disappointments throw me off. I don’t know about you, but this story places emphasis on the fact that disappointment and sadness will come, and as we become dejected by the events or issues that lead to them, maybe that is the best time to look around. It is the time to trust God; it is the time to see Jesus because He has always been very close, breaking open His Word, breaking bread, and humbly changing us into witnesses.
The story of the Road to Emmaus is one that echoes a lot of our experiences. The two disciples were walking away from Jerusalem, completely dejected, disappointed and confused. They had every hope and faith in Jesus; however, His crucifixion had totally shattered their hopes. Many of us place hopes in things, people, wealth, position, status, and religion, but all turn out to be a mirage. However, in this story, Jesus turned up at the darkest hour for the two disciples to comfort them and rekindle their hope. No one who trusts in God will ever be disappointed. When circumstances seem darkest and understanding fails, Christ often draws nearest to give comfort and hope. Christ is often closest when He seems furthest away.
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, NLT)
Amen
Lord, we thank you for your presence with us in our strugles.Please also hasten to deliver us from them Amen!
Has there ever been a greater “rug pull” in the history of humanity than Calvary? I suspect not. From the thrill of what feels like victory with the triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the events of the end of the week would be enough to shatter anyone’s soul.
In the depth of that agony a rumor arises that Jesus was alive again. However the “rumor” was brought by women. In the disciples minds it couldn’t possibly be true.
In times of bitterest disappointment and sorrow Jesus reveals himself to them. If we are honest we could say that Jesus does the same for us. Jesus knew that he had to act fast to save the movement that he had started from coming apart as his disciples were falling apart. Jesus could read their hearts like a book that had been ripped apart and it’s pages scattering in the wind.
We have all been there at different times in our lives, and Jesus has walked and talked us through it. My own mother had such a gift of insight and compassion that she could “read me” even though I tried to hide and conceal my feelings, even as an adult. On more than one occaision she had looked into my eyes and saw all that I was holding in and holding back. When in her gentle and compassionate voice she asked, “what’s wrong son?”, the dam of emotions would crumble and I would share what was weighing me down, often with tears. How I miss her!
The only love stronger than a mother’s love is the love of Jesus. He frequently walks with us and talks with and tells us that we are his own. In those moments when he sees the overwhelmed, disheartened, or frightened, adult “child”, he speaks, “what’s wrong, son?” (or daughter), and suddenly we are relieved of our burden and rejoice in his compassion. Jesus still walks with us on our Emmaeus roads of life. “And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”
The two followers of Christ on the road to Emmaus was the state of mind most followers of Christ were in. They were going from our Saviour in person to our Saviour and Friend Unseen. It was quite a traumatic transition for them. That is why Christ appeared from time to time and spent time with them off and on for 40 days before His public ascension into heaven as described. The two followers of Christ on the road to Emmaus were in the state of mind most followers of Christ were in. They were going from our Saviour in person to our Saviour and Friend Unseen. It was quite a traumatic transition for them. That is why Christ appeared from time to time and spent time with them off and on for 40 days before His public ascension into heaven as described in Acts 1:9-11. “This same Jesus who you saw ascend into heaven will come in like manor as you saw Him ascend into heaven.” And yes John the revelator prophesied the same. Revelation 1:7. The most comforting words also said to John the revelator was; “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen” Revelation 1:18. “This same Jesus who you saw ascend into heaven will come in like manor as you saw Him ascend into heaven.” Acts 1:11. Some of the most comforting words also said to John the revelator was, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.” Revelation 1:18.
Lesson suggestion: “… key messages you can share with someone who is facing setbacks right now.”
I want to bring 2 Cor.1:4 into context by including v.3 – ”Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Compassion and the God of all Comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves received from God..
The two man Jesus joined on the road to Emmaus had met Him before, had heard Him speak and knew of His sufferings, but they were disappointed because He had not fulfilled their expectations. They did not receive Him as the messiah who could free them from bondage and bring healing to their soul.
Jesus said so Himself: ”O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His Glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all of the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Luke 24:25-27
How can we comfort those who are suffering? By giving aid, but also, and most importantly, by encouraging them to believe in the God who comforted us – the
God and Father of Jesus Christ – the Father of Compassion and God of all Comforts.” – 2Cor.1:3-4.
Only the God of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is able to give lasting comfort and spiritual healing which will last forever and is applicable in all circumstances. We are called to testify to this Truth as we have experienced the healing of our own grief, anxiety, and loss – 2 Thess.2:16-17; Rev.21:4; Phil.4:7
As time goes by and I keep my faith in God, I realize that what I don’t understand now will eventually be explained. It is worth clinging to faith and accepting fate. I can only be thankful to Him because His “silence” really teaches me that He is always at work and never forgets anyone!
I did read the verses at the end of today’s lesson. And they have good counsel for me when I go through tough times. I need to remember them. But I feel it’s different with others. However, I’m not sure that writing down 3 key things I could share with someone struggling is the right approach at all. Yes, if they asked for wisdom from the Scriptures, I might share some of these verses. But otherwise, I think it’s wiser to just listen and tell them you care and give them a hug.
Maybe we don’t have to have answers all the time. Maybe we can’t really understand what someone needs until we listen and even then we will get it wrong. I’m not saying we shouldn’t share Bible verses, but maybe we need to ask ourselves why we are so quick to jump in with them. God doesn’t need us to defend Him and when we do we may end up more like Job’s friends.
Surely, the person going back home to Emmaus was Cleopas’s wife, who had stood near the cross with the other women see John 19:25.
I think there’s a good possibility of that. We always assume 2 men, but maybe that says more about our biases than anything else.