Inspired by Ms. Cowman, I've been thinking about the Christian walk and how it relates to the Emmaus Road experience of those first two disciples and to me personally.  The result of my mediation is my own original poem entitled The Emmaus Road for obvious reasons.  I wrote it in a formal rhyming couplet pattern with a syllable 12-13-12-13 design.  I was originally thinking of the power of the numbers 12 and 13: 12 for the original disciples and 13 for the disciples plus Jesus.  I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

The Emmaus Road
by Sharon Aubrey © 2018

Lord, we walk in blindness on the Emmaus Road,
Emotionally wounded, our hearts a heavy load,
Confused we move forward, each step a precious ache;
Life’s journey moves us forward, for no one it will wait.
 
We walk towards a city, our destination clear,
But first we travel valleys with frustrations and fear.
Our path winds onward, up steep temptations and strife,
Then trudges slowly, the beaten tracks of daily life.
 
We see a rest stop, where we pause to be refreshed,
A glimpse of truth is given; we gain a second breath;
The road along the heights of victories we walk,
Exploring bits and pieces, of puzzles we do talk.
 
Drawing near to the house, we turn to ask you in
Humbly you entered, as one without burden.
The meal satisfied more than body by the bread,
For breaking it we saw you had risen from the dead.
 
Our hearts filled with great joy, we hurried to our feet
Returning to the former path, we walked down the street.
No more are hills and valleys, no more heavy loads,
For Christ was among us on the Emmaus Road.
 
Our path is now made strait, from a perspective change,
A shift into the Spirit, temporal things are strange.
A secret we will carry deep within our hearts,
Our Savior is alive; nothing can keep us apart.
 
His love an endless spring from which we draw supply,
His eternal Spirit now dwelling with us inside.
Our joy unspeakable, no worldly man can take,
Our mouths proclaim His glory, not even Hell can shake. 
 
Bold with every step, we walk the road unafraid
Looking for other sheep that have turn aside or strayed.
The Good News we proclaim to all who will but hear,
Jesus Christ the risen Lord calls all of us come near.
 
Come to Him for salvation, forgiveness of sin;
Don’t delay! The God of Love is welcoming you in.
Nothing you have ever done or could ever do
Is stronger than the precious blood of Christ shed for you!

© 2018, Sharon Aubrey

Beth Moore has been a wonderful example of a Christian minister and has encouraged hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people to study the Scripture and know Jesus as their Savior better.  Recently, Beth released an open letter to her brothers in Christ explaining her denominational history, her respect for her Christian male mentors and pastors, and challenging Christian men everywhere to recognize the ungodly behavior by many who dismiss a woman simple because she was born female.  

As a woman in Christ, my heart ached with Beth's letter, as I deeply understand the ridicule she faced in using of her gifts given by the Holy Spirit at the hands of some men in leadership positions within the Body of Christ.    As Beth states, "attitudes among some key Christian leaders that smacked of misogyny, objectification and astonishing disesteem of women and it spread like wildfire. It was just the beginning. I came face to face with one of the most demoralizing realizations of my adult life: Scripture was not the reason for the colossal disregard and disrespect of women among many of these men. It was only the excuse. Sin was the reason. Ungodliness."

Beth correctly identifies the source of negativity against women in ministry and leadership which has less to do with Scripture than the entrapment of sin.  Scripture when taken in context and correctly translated does not forbid women from ministry roles as exemplified by their role within the early church, and nothing about the dismissive and demeaning attitude by men in leadership positions within the Church towards women is reflective of the image of Christ.  I encourage you all to read Beth's letter for yourselves, because many people have already started to  twist her words.   Always encourage the Truth within the Body of Christ. 

Yesterday, I noticed our local bookstore was going out of business, so I went in to see what books were still available.  I found a small hardback book titled, Springs in the Valley by Mrs. Chas E. Cowman, copyright 1939.  Intrigued, I purchased the little devotional and took it home.  Last night while reading the second entry, I had a deeper revelation of the New Testament thanks to Mrs. Cowman expounding on the Emmaus Road experience. 
 
When I read the Old Testament, it’s easy to see an allegory or parable within the event being described.  Take for example the story of David and Goliath.  We know this was a factual account of a historical confrontation between a young Israeli teenager and a seasoned Philistine warrior.  While reading about the real event, most Believers also understand other layers that are allegorical or spiritually symbolic.  We perceive situations in our lives when we are in a similar position to David.  David, representing a man of faith, overcomes the impossible giant in life by trusting in God.  From David’s historical battle, we can learn a lesson of faith applicable to our own lives.  Or perhaps in the story of David and Goliath, we view Jesus the Christ, the Beloved (the meaning of David’s name) of God, taking on Satan, humanity’s giant enemy, and totally destroying him.  Whatever spiritual depths we read in the story of David and Goliath, Believers seem to instinctively know there is more to the Old Testament story than just mere historical facts. 
 
Somehow, I never truly applied this same bible reading principle to all the New Testament scriptures.  Of course like many Christians, I regularly extrapolate spiritual applications from Jesus’ teachings and parables.  Their practical application to a life of faith seem obvious, as well as in many other gospel accounts, like Peter stepping out of the boat to walk on water.  Yet somehow, many of the other events in the New Testament I read as simply historical facts and never truly considered a deeper spiritual meaning concealed behind them.
 
Mrs. Cowman wrote about the Emmaus Road experience from a new spiritual perspective.  She began recounting the tale of an early spring day when two men were walking the Emmaus Road, both recently saddened by their teacher’s death.  Then she elaborated about their heavy emotional burden and mentioned a Stranger suddenly falls in step with them along the road.  Together, the three men begin discussing the depressed hearts of the two disciples.  While the two men don’t understand who the third man is yet, their discussion of scripture ignites a warm glow in their souls that bids them to stay in this stranger’s company.  Loathed to see him leave, the two men invite him into their lodging for the night.  At dinner with the breaking of bread, the two men suddenly KNOW the third man is Jesus. 
 
Then Ms. Cowman challenges Believers to take the spiritual application of the Emmaus Road event into our hearts.  Do we have times in life when we don’t notice Jesus walking with us because our journey is full of sorrows and with heavy heart and feet we barely take the next step?  Like those two men of long ago, Jesus is walking beside us, even when we do not see Him.  Like them, do you feel warmth within your soul while reading God’s word?  Does it feel like that flame might be too small to completely lift your pain and burden, and yet you do not want the Stranger to leave?  Well, take comfort Ms. Cowman reminds, for the Lord is walking beside you!  Jesus’ revelations from Old Testament scriptures beginning with Moses clear up through Gospel events are only part of knowledge He wanted to impart to His disciples.  Jesus desired they understand all that He was, all that He did, and equally important that they see Him as He is now.  Had Jesus not wanted those two disciples to see Him as the risen Lord, He would not have stayed with them till dinner waiting for them to fully comprehend. 

• Are you on a very long road? 
• Have you been emotionally wounded and yet been walking for hours?
• Are you growing weary and disheartened?
• Does it seem like the sun is fading as twilight and dark shadows grow? 

 
Take comfort for Jesus is with you.  Even though you cannot see Him clearly, He is walking beside you, always with you.  Mrs. Cowman encourages Believers to take the seemingly lonely road.  Walk it courageous and unafraid, because Jesus is on that road.   He will never fail you, nor ever forget His covenant with you.  Like the disciples of old, Jesus continually walks beside us, even if we don’t realize it.
 
Wow! Looking through the eyes of the Emmaus Road disciples for a practical spiritual revelation the Holy Spirit wanted to impart to Believers today was fresh rhema for my soul.  It also forever changed how I read the New Testament.  No longer will I read of early church events as simply recording the facts of what happened.   Like Old Testament stories, the New Testament facts are designed to give us a deeper revelation of Jesus Christ and His work in our lives.  Imagine what Believers will find when we read through the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and all the letters to the churches with a heart to view another level of revelation, one beyond the mere facts.  What precious treasures await those who seek!

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing and the honor of kings to search it out.
Proverbs 25:2