After reviewing several “Road To Emmaus” paintings, I noticed that Jesus is never smiling! In each one he is undertaking the apparently somber business of awakening two of his disheartened followers. Each of the artists must have believed this task was heavy lifting for Jesus. I don’t think so. Jesus’ sobriety seems out of place to me. Seriously! How could he awaken fulness of joy within us (as he said he would) if he himself is a sad sack? I believe the artist’s portrayal of Jesus say much about our distorted views of God. How did this alliance between frowns and holiness take place?

And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. (Luke 24:14-15)

It is always helpful when envisioning Jesus’ face to recall that as the One who spoke the cosmos into existence, it is unlikely he has lost control of it. He was not under-the-weather due to a couple of guys who did not yet understand. Staying moored to this reality tends to brighten one’s outlook and loosen the religious muscles that can contort our lips into frowns, preventing their more natural curvature. It is also helpful to understand the origin of the disciple’s perception problems. What was preventing them from seeing?

Their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” (Luke 24:16-18)

I not only think smiles come easy to Jesus, I believe he has the best sense of humor in the  cosmos. He no doubt has shared a good laugh with these men since this day hike. Can you imagine Cleopas’ reflections on this encounter? He essentially stood eye to eye with God and said, “Are you the most clueless being on the planet?” I can’t help but think the Creator of the planet found this humorous. I could just hear Jesus’ reply, “Oh, there might be one or two others.”

Jesus, who is the perfect representation of God, is no longer thundering commands down from the heights of Mt Sinai; instead, he is walking along side men asking them what they are thinking. How amazing that our God is approachable and listens to us even as we spill out our profound ignorance which is, in large part, the origin of our smile-deficits. I believe God wants us to have winsome outlooks – like his.

With his well aimed questions, Jesus is searching their hearts, preparing them for their awakening. I believe there is value to us in hearing ourselves say what is in our hearts. This Emmaus Road encounter reveals what can happen when we expose our thoughts. Like Cleopas, when we get our thoughts out into the light we often discover that our grasp of the light is pretty thin. 

And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. (Luke 24:19-20)

Jesus had just spent three years teaching them in word and deed that he was the Promised One – the Suffering Servant of Israel and they were honoring his memory as a mere prophet! Jesus’ discovery that his legacy was going to be discounted from resurrected Messiah to dead prophet might have been cause for him to throw up. Instead, he just began patiently working on their understanding, reviewing the facts, helping them out of their sadness into a place where they could have the same joyful confidence that filled his heart.

When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:30-32)

After Jesus had flushed out their confusion and hopelessness he opened their eyes and revealed himself to them. As soon as he knew he had restored an accurate vision to them of who he was (insuring that the appropriate facial muscles would not atrophy) he vanished. So, what was the byproduct of their encounter with the resurrected Christ?

They got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. (Luke 24:33-35)

As we find that our smiles are being influenced directly by the nearness of God and his promises, we too shall arise and give fresh accounts of our awakening. Until this muscle group is activated and sustained by Christ alone, it may be best for us to postpone our sermons. If we think ours or the human race’s problems are heavy lifting for God, we should probably not move our lips too much. Perhaps our smiles will be rescued if we will remember that we have in fact been rescued; that God is good; that he knows us; that he is in control; that we are not victims of random circumstance; that it is not a big task for God to turn on the light; that even our ignorance and unbelief are not insurmountable obstacles to him.

Is your Jesus smiling or frowning?

Father, restore to us the joy of our salvation. Let a confident eternity-driven smile replace our short-sighted frowns as we grasp how firm Your grip is on us and the affairs of men (however lost the cause may seem to us). Grant us our own Emmaus Road and may your words burn appropriately in our hearts. So be it.

 

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