After Jesus' death, two of his followers were walking from Jerusalem back toward Emmaus when a stranger joined them. During dinner in Emmaus, Jesus revealed himself to them and then disappeared. They immediately returned to Jerusalem to tell the disciples the good news that Jesus was alive. As they were talking, Jesus appeared in their midst. It wasn’t a figment of their imagination or the appearance of a ghost. It was the resurrected Jesus, in bodily form. The disciples touched Jesus’ hands and feet. Jesus ate food with them. They talked together.

In fact, they talked about things they had talked about earlier in the journey but now with greater clarity. Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem began with a call for his disciples to be on mission. It ends the same way. As the resurrected Jesus meets with his disciples before he ascends into heaven, he once again reminds them what this journey has all been about. Jesus opens their minds to the Scriptures. He reminds them that the words of Moses and the prophets have all been pointing to this moment. Jesus wants them to spread the good news about the Kingdom. He wants the whole world to know about the redeeming, restoring message of God's love and forgiveness. Jesus wants his disciples to boldly declare that not only has he been resurrected but, in him, we too can be raised to life in Christ.

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