By
Elin Henderson
“Suddenly Jesus Himself
came along and joined them and began walking beside them.”
Luke 24:15 (NLT)
Imagine several individuals walking along the side of
the road. Heads hung low, faces despondent. Just a few days before, they were
part of a triumphal entry and then everything went south. Their leader was
taken, beaten, humiliated and hung to die on a cross. They had imagined things
differently. They were meant to be part of the winning team, the conquerors,
but now their leader was dead, their group was scattered and here they were,
walking along not knowing where to go or what lay ahead.
Suddenly, they weren’t alone. Another walked along with
them, His presence hardly acknowledged. He started asking them questions,
joining them in their journey - - literally and emotionally. He didn’t spout
off platitudes but let these two tell their story. When they were done, He
opened their eyes to the truth of the Word of God. Such was His counsel and
presence that they begged Him to stay with them that night. Finally, later in
the evening, after He began to break the bread and share it with them, they
realized just who had walked alongside them all that day.
Never underestimate the power of presence. Jesus just
showed up, walked alongside these two along the road to Emmaus and let them
share their story with Him. In doing so, He gained an audience that then
allowed Him to speak into their lives. There is a lesson for us to learn here.
Sometimes just being there for people as they walk along the road of life and
work through their grief or struggles is more powerful then we can imagine. It
may lead us to the place where we can speak into their lives and forge an
everlasting bond. Let’s be alert to the opportunities God gives us to simply be
a presence in the lives of others.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Can you think of those in your life right now who
are going through a tough time? How can you be a “presence” in their lives and
walk with them?
2. How can
allowing someone to just share his or her story be part of their healing?
FURTHER READING:
Oakwood’s
missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as
church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to twelve-year-old Callie and
ten-year-old Elias. They are currently in America on Home Assignment.
