The road from Jerusalem to Emmaus was the road between the now and the not-yet.
This week, we’re looking at the story of the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus, found in Luke 24:13-35.
Right before the disciples went on their way, they received the news that Jesus’ tomb was empty and that some of the women had seen angels who told them that Jesus had risen.
So, here they were, traumatised from the events of that weekend–the crucifixion of their friend and leader–but also intrigued by the news from the women. Could they dare to hope?
One of my favourite authors, Ruth Haley Barton, writes about this tension:
They were suspended somewhere between loss and possible gain, grief and possible joy, profound human suffering and perhaps some kind of redemption, dashed hopes and maybe daring to hope again. The road from Jerusalem to Emmaus was the road between the now and the not-yet.
Although they were probably not aware of it, these disciples were in what Richard Rohr calls “liminal space”—a particular spiritual position where human beings hate to be, but where God is always leading them.
Liminal space usually induces some sort of inner crisis: you have left the tried and true (or it has left you), and you have not yet been able to replace it with anything else.
The Bible is filled with people who found themselves in similar positions:
- Abraham left his home country and his father’s house for a land he did not yet know.
- Joseph was in prison, but about to become a ruler.
- The Israelites wandered in the wilderness between Egypt and the Promised Land.
- The disciples were huddled up in the upper room, their Messiah gone but waiting for the promised Helper.
Do you feel like you’ve been “in between”? Like God has left you hanging? Or perhaps you feel like He’s abandoned you altogether?
This season might feel uncomfortable, but it has its purpose. Trust God and His guidance–He will meet you in your journey!
