Many have noted that the greatest evangelist is undoubtedly Jesus himself. Apart from the way he connected with the Samaritan woman at the well and led her to faith in him (John 4:7-14), Jesus also came alongside two men who were on their way to Emmaus to help them understand that his death and resurrection were in fulfilment of Scriptures and in accordance to God’s redemption plan (Luke 24:13-35).
Although those men were initially prevented from recognising Jesus, it was Jesus who took the initiative to appear before them. Instead of waiting for them to seek him out earnestly, Jesus availed himself to join them in their journey and graciously engaged them in further conversation.
Can you imagine? Even after the epoch-making, “earth-shaking” event of his resurrection, Jesus still made time for ordinary individuals, who were trying to come to terms with the claims of an empty tomb (Luke 24:22-24).
During his earthly ministry, Jesus did not shy away from the company of a diverse group of people. He did not find it beneath himself to stand shoulder to shoulder in the Jordan river with those seeking forgiveness through John’s baptism. He often ate and drank with those who were deemed to be of disrepute, to the extent he was labelled a “glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 7:34). Even at the end of his life, he was crucified between two criminals.
As one writer aptly puts it, “Jesus hated sin, but he loved sinners and willingly move into their world to engage them on their terms”. To be sure, Jesus was not indiscriminately chilling with drunks and prostitutes. Neither was he some smooth-talking spiritual guru who refuses to judge people and is indifferent towards sin. What is clear from the Gospels is that Jesus gladly spent time with people who were open to his teaching, and readily forgave and welcomed repentant sinners who trusted in him. Jesus was indeed a friend to sinners.
Apart from availing himself to others, Jesus also had the knack of asking questions in a way that facilitated further engagement with them. Here in Luke 24, after hearing Cleopas recount all the things pertaining to their hopes for Jesus as God’s promised Messiah, Jesus went on explain Scripture to those clueless disciples (Luke 24:25-27).
Interestingly enough, even at this juncture, Jesus neither revealed any new detail about himself nor informed the men of his true identity. But through the process of tracing Scripture’s overarching theme, culminating in the suffering of God’s promised Messiah, something within them clicked. For the first time in their lives, they started to understand God’s redemption plan and realised that their faith in Jesus has not been in vain. All that they have hoped for has come true and is coming true and their hearts burned within them (v.32).
Finally, Luke records for us that when Jesus joined them for a meal, he “took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognised him” (v.31). Even as these disciples were beginning to see who Jesus was, it was upon the breaking of bread that they came to grasp his true identity.
It appears to be no coincidence that through this breaking of bread, Jesus made his presence known to the disciples. After all, Jesus had taught he is the bread of life (John 6:35). Just as the “breaking” of Jesus, the Bread of Life at the cross revealed God’s glory (John 12:23-24) and love and was the means through which forgiven sinners are welcomed into God’s presence, the breaking of the bread by Jesus that evening also revealed God’s presence to all who gathered around the table. Indeed, nothing would have been more symbolic and revelatory of God’s love for sinners.
For us who have experienced God’s grace and are called by God to be a witness unto the nations (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8), may we never end up being a holy huddle behind closed doors and just praying for non-believers from a distance.
If we truly believe that Christ died and rose to rescue sinners, we should not be simply waiting for people to ask us questions about Jesus or Christianity. Neither should we be too quick to pass judgment upon their perceived hardened hearts or be aloof towards what others might be struggling with in their lives.
Instead, let us ask God to fill us with compassion and wisdom to know how to make known God’s presence and love in our daily lives. Pray that through the yielding of our lives unto Jesus, we will have opportunities to help explain God’s word to others.
Let us take an interest in the souls of those who have now arrived in our shores and find ways to come alongside them so that they will get to hear the Gospel and experience God’s love. Let us seek to grow in our understanding of other cultures and worldviews and avail ourselves to serve alongside others in mission endeavours and not be mistaken into thinking this is merely an option for a select few?
After all, Jesus himself after explaining the prophecies concerning his sacrificial death and resurrection went on to commission his disciples, saying “repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:47-48).
It is no surprise that this sending by Jesus was closely connected to the Easter joy that his first followers experienced. As much as it was challenging, their subsequent going forth into the nations was no burdensome task. Rather it was Easter joy making her way beyond Jerusalem.
Regardless of how many more Easters God has graciously allotted to us, may we also go forth with such joy to the praise of his name.
