In the Breaking of Bread

After the resurrection of Jesus, his appearances often involved food and the sharing of a meal. We are seeing Jesus using food to relate to his disciples, to show them that he is who he is. Jesus uses the sharing of meal weather it is a wedding supper in Cana or in the houses of religious leaders the upper room and Inn at small village or a beach early one morning.  

To Emmaus

It is at the end of the journey to Emmaus a small village about seven miles to the west of Jerusalem that Jesus uses the breaking of bread to reveal himself to two of the disciples.

The two disciples walked along attempting to make scene of the events that they had been a part of , how  they had come to believe that Jesus was the long hoped for Messiah of Israel, and when it seemed that all the things that they had longed for were about to come to pass everything came undone. Jesus was arrested and executed upon a cross. Jesus was dead and buried and they knew it.

Then they receive reports that some of their company had seen Jesus alive. They are perplexed, down cast and uncertain as to what all of it had meant. They were uncertain as to where they would go from here. It is then as they walk to Emmaus that, unrecognized by them, they encounter Jesus.

  “Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.”

At the moment that they encounter Jesus, he literally stops them in their tracks by asking them what was the subject of their discussion as they walked along.

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” Lk: 24:13-16

“They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” (17-18)

The risen Lord then leads them to review the events of which they were a part of; all of this is in preparation for his self disclosure to the disciples.

 “What things?” he asked. (19)

They answered.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” (20-24)

Jesus Begins to Sort it Out

Using the Scriptures, Jesus them begins to sort out what they have passed though together .His words penetrate into their hearts, they perceive the truth within them.

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”  (25-27)

Revealed Broken Bread

They arrive at their destination, but for them, Emmaus is more than just a location it becomes a place of revelation about Jesus. It is here in the sharing of a meal, in the breaking of bread that Jesus reveals himself and they come to see that it has been he himself who walked along with them the whole time even though they did not recognize him. It was Jesus who began to bring clarity and understanding regarding their experiences, both the glory and the sufferings. 

“As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.”

“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (28-32)

In the Shared Meal

What occurred there at Emmaus, at that simple meal, is the same as what Jesus did at the in the upper room, as Jesus passed the bread and wine, but now it can be viewed in light of his resurrection. The resurrection has now changed for all time and eternity the meaning of gathering together for the sharing of meal. It has now become a means of encountering the resin Jesus in dramatic and interment way. He shows us that he is here with us. 

And seeing who he is we begin to be able to see who we are in him. Our lives with their all the unexpected challenges and its glories and sufferings all begin to take on a redemptive quality.

Jesus lives, and his risen life is what gives the shared meal of broken bread its power and redemptive quality by which he gives us a revelation about who he is.

Telling Others

When the two disciples recognize Jesus they are moved by the encounter to return to Jerusalem and share it with the other disciples. They have become witness of the Jesus and his resurrection.

“”They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.” (33-35)

Jesus Eats

The two disciples tell the others about their encounter with Jesus and as they do, Jesus reveals himself to the others.

“While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (36)

Jesus understands their fear and to assuage it ,and show them,  that it is himself, he extends his hands and feet that they might know that it is their Lord. Jesus asks them if they have anything to eat. This act shows them it is him.

“They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.”  (37-43)

Jesus Brings Understanding

After they see that Jesus is alive he opens their understanding to the word of God and the purposes for which he has called them.

“He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

In the Breaking of Bread

In this sharing of a meal, that is in the breaking of bread, Jesus has revealed himself and his very purpose for each and all of us. Jesus is inviting all humanity into communion with himself. The very message of the Gospel is pictured as Jesus knocking upon the doors of human hearts so that he might eat with them and sees Jesus for who he is.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Rev: 3:20

If the door is opened to him, Jesus will fellowship with us, have communion, we will see who he is. This image of a common shared meal with Jesus is not just for the here and now but is used to speak to us all about the eternal joyful fellowship in a marriage union with Jesus where Jesus will eternally reveal to us all that the great God has for each and all of us, bring us  ever into a great revelation of who he is.

Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are the true words of God."Rev: 19:9

In the breaking of bread, that shared meal with our Lord we grow ever close to him seeing that he is with now and for all eternity..Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor 

  The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com: