While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them.
Luke 24:15
As two of his disciples walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus on that first Easter Sunday, mulling their profound disappointment and confusion surrounding the events of their master’s crucifixion, Jesus came near and walked with them.
At first, they did not recognize Jesus; as they walked together, he drew them out, inquiring about their sadness and listening to their situation. And when this curious stranger began stunningly reframing the meaning of those tragic weekend events, the two disciples’ sadness turned and their interest peaked—“Stay with us, stay with us.”
Then as the two disciples shared a meal with the resurrected Jesus their eyes “were opened and they recognized” their master and their friend. Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road?
For many, late August is a beginning in the life of a local church, a “new ministry season.” New commitments are made and new sets of relationships are formed around the church’s different activities and functions. For some, this involves the opportunity to lead a small group. In our VantagePoint3 world, these are facilitators of Journey groups, A Way of Life groups, or Walking with Others groups. For the Church as a whole, there are a myriad of studies, prayer groups, missional communities, mentoring opportunities, or growth groups starting in the next several weeks, all requiring good and caring leaders.
For those preparing to lead such small group ventures, I want to encourage you to acquaint yourself this fall with these two disciples heading toward Emmaus with Jesus (Luke 24:13-35). Walk with them; get this gospel story into your imagination. Allow it to suggest and shape your mindset and posture—Jesus continues to come near and walk with us when we walk together as his disciples.
Many times this year, you and your group will encounter Jesus but not immediately recognize him. But over time and conversation, you will come to discover Jesus’ stunning presence with you and among you. Jesus is always in the business of surprising us along the way.
As small group leaders, teachers, facilitators, mentors, or even developers of others, our leadership role is not to be Jesus or messiah or a rescuer in the lives of the other group members. Rather, let’s increasingly envision ourselves as fellow disciples, companions on the road, helping one another make sense of our life in Christ. May we always remain alert and expectant to the resurrected Jesus coming near to us and walking with us.
Thomas Hart’s The Art of Christian Listening provides fruitful perspectives for this work of leading and companioning others on their spiritual journey. I have translated some of his thoughts into four self-examining questions. As you think and pray about the Emmaus Road story (Luke 24:13-35) and your desire to lead well or walk well with others, allow these four simple questions to orient and prepare your heart for the work:
- Am I willing to listen? Listening is fundamental to building trust in relationships. By listening attentively to one another we remind each other that our lives profoundly matter.
- Am I willing to simply be a companion? I need to leave behind any ambitions to be a savior or problem solver or fix-it person in another’s life. The gift we can promise to our groups is our presence and genuine interest along the way.
- Am I willing to love? It is un-love that makes people unwell, and it is love, and love alone, that makes people well (Karl Menninger). To choose to walk alongside others on their spiritual journey is to choose to love them.
- Am I willing to be myself? Pretending to be someone I am not, erodes trust in a relationship or small group. It is also a recipe for burnout; wearing a mask is exhausting. Allow the Spirit to gently free you up to be more comfortable in your skin as you walk with others (Rom. 12:3).
Reflect and Pray:
Where does this Emmaus road story and these self-examining questions stir your heart and mind? Any discoveries, barriers, or longings you are bumping into as you ask these four questions? Share any thoughts, feelings, and hopes for you and the group in a written prayer.
FOR FURTHER READING: Walking with the Risen Christ: A Primer for Healthy Small Groups by Soo-Inn Tan
