The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24) Christ is RISEN, Truly He is RISEN!

13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”

18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.

22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.” 25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. GENESIS ISAIAH, JEREMIAH, … EXODUS LEVITICUS NUMBERS DEUTERONOMY

28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.

32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. MEMORY VERSE “He was known to them in the breaking of bread.” (Luke 24:35)

Footprints in the Sand One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?” The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”

Jesus Himself is always with you! Have FAITH that Jesus is with you always! He loves you so much He never leaves you Even when you don’t realize it, He is there He is always with you Trust Jesus, trust that He is always with you “Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.” Know that God is always beside you, walking with you!

HOPE instead of HOPING Always have HOPE that Jesus is our true SAVIOUR He IS the ONE who saves Israel He IS the ONE who saves the whole world He IS the ONE who loves you and me so much He IS the ONE who saves you, and saves me He saves me from my sins, and from all troubles “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.”

Our eyes are opened … In the Liturgy, our spiritual eyes are opened to see Him Every Liturgy, Jesus takes bread, blesses, and breaks it This part of the Liturgy, where the Body is broken to be given to us, is called the FRACTION It is the most holy part of the Liturgy, as the Lord’s Body is broken, to be given to us “He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him …” Listen to one of the Fraction prayers: Coptic Orthodox Fraction - The Syrian Fraction in English.mp3

The Lord Jesus, our Good Shepherd, is also The True Lamb, giving us His Body & Blood on the Altar, The Living Bread, is given for remission of sins And eternal life, to all those partake of Him. Abouna prays while he breaks to Body of Christ There are different Fraction prayers for different occasions and seasons (Nativity, Lent, Easter, …), see the Liturgy book We all should open our spiritual eyes, and pray respectfully, “Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Lord have mercy!” The Fraction......

At the Fraction, this Holy part of the Liturgy, please Lord: Lift up my heart, so that I can pray knowing that You are here Open my eyes, to see You Open my ears & heart, to hear & obey Your message to me Open my lips, to praise you, to pray to you, to ask for mercy! “Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Lord have mercy!” “Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.” (Psalm 119:18) “He was known to them in the breaking of bread.”