These weren’t two well-known people. They weren’t part of the hyper-spiritual inner circle.
One of them was named Cleopas and the other remains nameless to us until this very day.
The Bible never mentioned that person’s name, while Cleopas is only mentioned once in the entire Bible. But Jesus loved them and cared immensely about how downcast they were feeling. Despite them not having a big name or being a spiritual giant, a faith-filled mover and shaker, He cares for the lowly, unseen and nameless as well.
As they were journeying away from Jerusalem, walking on the lonely road to Emmaus, the two persons were recorded walking and talking together, talking specifically about what everyone else in the region was talking about: the main and current event that just took place, the execution and burial of Jesus. They had also recently heard that He was resurrected from the dead and was walking around town. They were too disappointed to believe it for themselves though.
The Bible insinuates that they reasoned with one another while sounding really discouraged. They initially thought and definitely had hoped that things would have worked out differently. They most likely witnessed many of His miracles and wonders. They saw His power on visible display and the way He was able to answer prayer. They probably figured, “This is it; it’s only up from here. We will never want, suffer, or experience loss ever again. God is here, walking amongst us, to eliminate all oppression, depression, tragedy, and everything else we’ve had to suffer through.”
But suddenly, the One that they had hoped in was also taken captive and taken away. Everything they had hoped for and possibly planned for was in a dark tomb. They found themselves walking the lonely road of discouragement, the road that each one of us has or will walk at different points in life.
A person who they thought was a stranger walked up behind them. He asked them what they were talking about and sounded so discouraged over, as if He didn’t already know.
But He’s a gentle friend that’s willing to walk and talk with us. He’s willing to entertain our heartbreak and our loss of faith. He’s known to meet an individual along the journey while we’re at the depths of our discouragement. He walks and keeps walking, because He knows that healing a heart is an ongoing process and not a one-time event.
Their eyes were opened as they realized it was Jesus walking up behind them. Furthermore, He was also willing to continue until sundown on the lonely road with these two seemingly unknown people He answered their honest and transparent questions. He encouraged them; He explained what had happened according to His divine purposes that they couldn’t initially understand. The resurrected Christ didn’t harshly condemn them; He encouraged their hearts as they shared a meal together. His presence and voice helped them to continue on the journey.
When I was much younger, someone older told me, “As life goes on, you’ll find out who their true friends are when you’re at the very bottom. You’ll have dozens of friends when everything seems to be going well, when you’re fun to hang out with and have money to throw around. But wait to see who is sitting next to your hospital bed, who stands with you as you’re on the unemployment line, who comes to visit you regularly if you’re ever incarcerated, who is still looking to be your friend when you’re feeling lost and in a deep depression, when you’re broke, have nothing to offer in return, and find yourself in need. You’ll unfortunately be able to count your friends on only one hand then.”
While he wasn’t totally wrong, I can also say that those times have revealed a friend I’ve found that has been willing to walk every step of every lonely road with me. Jesus has been there at the very top and the very bottom too, situations that I thought would pummel me have ended up working out for a greater purpose that I couldn’t see at the time. There’s been healing, provision, encouragement, and a heart change along the narrow way. He’s been a friend I’ve found along the road of discouragement.
Lord,
I pray for everyone today who opened this newspaper to this very page who has been discouraged, those who have been feeling alone, friendless, confused, hopeless, and swimming in the depths of depression. I pray that you would touch their minds and hearts with a hope that only you can provide. I pray for your comfort to surround them and for your word to encourage their hearts. Thank you, God, for being a friend that’s nearer to us then even our own breath. We look to you today for help, hope and a personal resurrection of our own hearts.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.
