Remembering Broken Bread

His words, his mannerisms. They reminded them of the friend they lost. His brutal death was still fresh in their minds. As they walked with this stranger, their hearts burned deep inside (Luke 24:32). They were filled with grief, missing their dear friend Jesus.

Ever feel like that? You’re suffering from deep grief, over the loss of a loved one. Maybe some difficult trauma has immobilized you with deep emotional pain. Jesus is right their, walking with you through this dark valley, but you don’t recognize Him. He is just another person reciting scripture to you, trying to help you find hope beyond your grief.

In that moment, as they walked toward Emmaus, they could not grasp that they were walking with the resurrected Lord. “Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures (27, NASB).” Even after the scripture was explained to them, they still could not see its fulfillment traveling with them.

In the middle of your grief, you cry out to the Lord in prayer. There is a burning inside of you that longs for resurrection hope. You want it to be true. You want it to raise you from this grief with hope. Your prayer, in between sobs, asks Jesus to stay with you just for tonight.

As they near their destination, “they urged Him, saying, ‘Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.’ So He went in to stay with them (29).” At the moment he blesses the bread, breaks it, and gives it to them, they recognize Him (30-31). They recall that moment in the upper room when he said, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me (Luke 22:19).”

Remember. He suffered like you. Felt pain, grief, and sorrow. He suffered for you, to bring the hope of salvation. In your grief, the resurrected Jesus is walking with you. He is alive, offering you hope in a hopeless world. He nudges your memory, recalling the time you broke bread together gathered around the table with friends; remembering the fellowship you felt with Him and other believers.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. – John 14:27 (NASB)