This month as I make home visits I have been focusing upon the Easter story in the Gospel of Matthew. And this week, as I prepare to preach on Sunday, I am additionally looking at the part of the Easter story generally known as The Road to Emmaus. Something that has struck me about both accounts is how patient and kind Jesus is with his followers.
It is easy to forget that Jesus had spent three years with most of these people. Teaching them the promises of the Old Testament. Revealing himself as the promised Messiah. Even telling them of his upcoming crucifixion and resurrection.
I say it is easy to forget this because as we enter into the stories of our Lord’s passion and resurrection it seems as though every one of his followers had forgotten all of this. Matthew tells us that “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb” (Matthew 28.1) on Easter’s dawn. Every indication is that they are shocked to find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. And the disciples walking to Emmaus initially report, “We had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel” (Luke 24.21) as they leave town disappointed and grieving.
Then I note three things that Jesus does for Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. First he rolls the stone away from the entrance of the tomb so the women can see that it is empty (and not so he could get out – he had escaped long before). Then he has an angel talk to them, patiently and kindly saying to them, “He has risen, as he said.” (Matthew 28.5) Finally, since they are described as filled with “fear and great joy” (Matthew 28.8), Jesus himself comes to them. And of course, as you know, even then he was not finished with his Easter Day activities.
And then there is Cleopas and his friend. They had heard the report of the women, but they don’t seem to really believe anything beyond the tomb being empty – the one fact they had personally verified by visiting the tomb themselves. However, instead of sticking around, they had decided to use the rest of their day to make the seven-mile trek back home. It is during this walk that Jesus comes to them, and reviews all that they had forgotten. And then finally – at just the right time – he reveals himself to them as their risen Lord.
Patient and kind … coming to them just as he came to Adam and Eve in the Garden … never ignoring the facts but never shaming his forgetful and fear-filled followers … taking his time, meeting them where they are (physically and emotionally) and practically spoon-feeding them things they should have already known from the previous three years. And then I think of how he has had three years plus seventy to work on me, and how I still need him to be equally (or more so) patient and kind with me – another forgetful and fear-filled follower. And I am wondering if you can relate?
In Samuel Medley’s Easter hymn “I Know that My Redeemer Lives” we sing, “He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly friend; He lives and loves me to the end” (verse 6). Paul reminds us that “Love is patient and kind” (1 Corinthians 13.4) and John tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4.8), so I guess I should not be surprised to find our resurrected Lord patient and kind. Perhaps a better word is appreciative. After all, where would I be if he were not!
And, as I reflect upon how important it is that he is patient and kind with me, I realize this is exactly what everyone needs … Jesus coming to them … patient and kind … coming to them just as he came to Adam and Eve in the Garden … never ignoring the facts but never shaming his forgetful and fear-filled friends … taking his time, meeting them where they are (physically and emotionally) and practically spoon-feeding them things they could or should have already known … and using people like you and me to be his kind and patient messengers of love.
Life is a process of growing and learning. So is faith. So is love. How good it is to know that we have a patient and kind friend who walks with us through them all.
Patient and Kind
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