In this blog we introduce one of PPH’s new series on Discipleship Now. In “The Path” Jody Wells speaks about a revelation on the road to Emmaus.
Jody Wells begins his new series with “whether my path is a lovely oceanside trail or a dark, wet trek through a Florida swamp, I know one thing: Jesus walks with me.”
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The Road to Emmaus
Of course, I know this from personal experience just like you do, but I also know it from examples in God’s Word. One of my favorite examples is the walk Jesus took with two enigmatic disciples on the path to Emmaus: “And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them” (Luke 24: 13–15).
The Emmaus path is said to have been seven miles long and an estimated three-hour hike.
He found the path they were walking on and met them there.
With all that Jesus had to accomplish in the time following His resurrection, He took that time. He traveled that distance to minister to only two souls. He didn’t ask them to meet Him at the nearest synagogue. He didn’t tell them, “Let’s talk at the Temple.” He found the path they were walking on and met them there. That’s exactly what He did for you and me. He found us where we were and took the time to walk with us and talk to us—while knowing we were walking our own direction. He had a completely different direction in mind for us. Still, His grace drew near to us; His mercy went with us.
Jesus Reveals Who He Was
Ultimately, Jesus revealed who He was to us in a very personal way. Our faith and trust in Him compelled us to forsake our path and follow His path: to Calvary in repentance, to the grave in baptism, and on to new life in the resurrection power of the Holy Ghost. The road to Emmaus reminds me of the very personal journey Jesus made with me to salvation and my purpose in Him. But what is my purpose? We’re often quick to say, “The Great Commission.” But what is my mission? Too many times we as Christians excuse ourselves from a missional lifestyle and use the Great Commission to do it.
The road to Emmaus reminds me of the very personal journey Jesus made with me to salvation and my purpose in Him.
You might be thinking, “Jesus said teach and preach, and I am neither a teacher nor a preacher.” Maybe not in the cultural sense of the words, but in the mind of Christ, we are all called to teach and preach the gospel.
If we are the body of Christ on earth, we are all called to do the things Jesus did. He even said, “Greater works than these he will do” (John 14:12, NKJV). We are called to the highways and byways that surround us. Our mission is to find people who think they know where they’re headed—people walking in the wrong direction and disciple them to Jesus Christ.
The Emmaus path reveals four mission milestones for discipleship:
- Communion
- Revelation
- Commission
- Impartation
Jody Wells invites you to join his journey today at discipleshipnow.com.
Discipleship Now is available on iOS and Android apps as well as AppleTV, ROKU, Google Play, and FireTV. Just search “Discipleship Now” to download the app and channel.