Beside the scripture we heard, this morning I will use another well-known story from the gospels. The story of the two disciples going to Emmaus after Jesus’ crucifixion.  

There are important events transmitted to us by the gospels that we do not know where they happened. The Sermon on the Mountain and the Transfiguration are only two examples. On the other hand, there are other events where the writers give us more details like the place and even the time when it happened. The one we read this morning is one of them. We find this story in Matthew and Mark, and both tell us where it happened. We must assume that for them the place is not only important, but essential to understand it.

Matthew and Mark tell us that Jesus and his disciples were in Caesarea of Philippi when Jesus asked the question who do say I am? Caesarea Phillip was a very interesting place in Jesus’ times. Before Caesarea Philippi, this city was called Panion in honor of Pan. In this city we find Mount Hermon. Mount Hermon was believed to be the birthplace of Pan, one of many gods worshiped by the Greeks. Pan was half man and half goat and according to the Greek mythology he was god of nature and the protector of the shepherds and flocks. Also, in this city Herod built a temple to honor Cesar Augustus and changed its name from Panion to Caesarea. Here as in many other cities, Caesar was worshiped as god, as the human representation of god.

This city was also a place where Baals, the Syrian gods were also worshiped, maybe the same gods that the Israelites worshiped before. Matthew and Mark might be suggesting that it was in front of Mount Hermon called by the Jews, the gates of hell where the sanctuary of Pan, the protector of the shepherds, and the flocks was, that Jesus the Good Shepherd asked his flock, who do you say I am? It was right there in the middle of this spiritual arena full of idolatry where Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ, you and not Caesar -seems that Peter is telling him-, are the son of God, the only human manifestation of God.

By the time Jesus asked this, he was only six month away from the Calvary, from the Cross and he wanted to make sure that his disciples had understood who he was; He had become the public enemy number one for all the religious leaders, he was running out of time here on hearth and he wanted to be sure that his disciples will continue with his message. Jesus asked this question because he wanted to know if the seed he sow fell in good soil. Peter’s answer showed that yes, all his disciples were good soil.

However, about six months later of Peter’s and the rest of the disciple’s confession – because usually Peter spoke for all the disciples- everything was going to change. When they saw Jesus hanging on the cross, they were in shock and in disbelief and they ran away. I was wondering if when Peter -led by God- confessed Jesus as the son of God, the two disciples described by Luke going back to Emmaus were with them? I believe they were there, and they agreed with Peter.

Allow me to read Luke 24:13-23, “Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.”

Luke tells us that these two disciples separated themselves from the rest of the disciples because they were disappointed. Disappointed because Jesus said he was the redeemer of Israel; they walked away because Jesus was not -according to them- who he said he was. And because they were disappointed, they walked away from the place they belong, the community of Jesus; their church, we can say today.

Today we are celebrating Back to Church Sunday, this is a day when we want to reach those who for different reasons -valid reason- left the church, the community of believers and invite you to come back -as the disciples going to Emmaus did-. The risen Christ, the Son of God is waiting for you. Disappointments are part of life; they are part of our journey with Jesus. The two disciples going to Emmaus were disappointed. Thomas the disciple, did not believe, because he was also disappointed. We can say the same about Elijah and Jonah in the Old Testament. Disappointments are part of those who follow by faith and not by sight. What we do not have to do is allow our disappointments to lead us away from our Savior, because as the prophet Jeremiah reminds in chapter 29, verse 11, he has plans for us,” “plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future.”

When those going to Emmaus returned to where they belong, Luke says that Jesus opened their minds. Luke 24:45, he also gave them back their ministry, the same call they had before and the power of the Holy Spirit. You are witnesses of these things; I am going to send you what my Father has promised. Luke 24 48 and 49. He also blessed them. When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. ⁵¹ While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. ⁵² Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. ⁵³ And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

The risen Christ want you back to his flock to open your mind to new and better revelations; he wants to give you back your sandals, ring and rope as the father did with to prodigal son when he came back, and he wants to lift his hands up toward you and bless you, so we can continue worshiping his name together in community.

Today we will partake communion, and Jesus has kept your place, he has been saving it for you and today he is inviting you to come. Let us come to his table.