Excerpt
It is a time of total emptiness. Exhausted; stretched beyond your previous limits; your body, mind and spirit are bathing in the aftermath of something so demanding it has taken nearly everything out of you. Your body is trembling and your mind is totally disoriented, like being drugged or intoxicated, yet, without ever taking a drink. Your mind feels numb, and you have trouble thinking clearly. You are walking around in a fog of disbelief and shock.
That was the state of two disciples when they began their walk down the road that led to the small town of Emmaus.
What had happened, they asked themselves over and over again? They could remember the events of the past three days in Jerusalem. Those events were crystal clear, yet, nothing had been as they expected. What did they believe? How did they come to believe what they did? How could they be so wrong? Why were they so convinced of what they previously believed? They had been so certain. Now . . . now what?
As the first steps of the journey began, the two were not certain where exactly they were going. Perhaps back fishing? Maybe. If that were the case, it would be simply putting in time. The big dream was over. The great plans cancelled. The hopes and excitement dashed like waves on the rocks of Galilees west shore. Fishing and carpentry would now be nothing more than a living. A task to be done until death came visiting. The chores to do, the taxes to pay and the Romans to put up with; that was all. Just surviving in this life like every body else.
The two men began to discuss with growing openness how they felt deep inside, finding some comfort in each other. As they spoke they were joined by a third man, who listened to their heartache for a time. The third man heard the pain and inner turmoil. The third man felt their disillusionment, and bewilderment. The third man realized the two were burned out in their spirits. The third man saw the two had lost their hope and their dreams.
The third man begins to speak. He tells stories from the Hebrew Bible. He walks the two disciples through the prophetic teachings about the Messiah, and all that would happen to him. Story by story, sentence by sentence, word by word the third man starts to rebuild understanding and even hope into the two men. As the bewildered, emotionally exhausted men listen, the importance of accurate understanding of the Messiah becomes clear. Their burned out hearts and shattered dreams become the doorway through which the third man reveals the true understanding of the Messiah. With their dreams now blown away, they begin to see with new eyes what God is truly doing.
The trio reaches the town of Emmaus, the town with the name that means (hot bath.( The two disciples were having their minds and hearts bathed clean of misunderstandings and inaccurate expectations. They were being warmed and soothed by the truth and the correct Gospel of God(s plan through the Messiah.
They asked the third man to stop and eat with them. They persisted, and he agreed. After finding a place to eat, they all sat down and broke bread. Only those present could tell us exactly how the next events unfolded, but we all wish for such an experience. As they talked and broke bread, the two came to see the truth in a crystal clear manner, and instantly saw the third man for who he really was, Jesus the risen Christ!
Jesus then disappears back to Jerusalem, and the two men head back down the seven mile road to Jerusalem themselves to share their news and new understanding. The healing of their burnout and total despair has started, and they have new strength and new hope that carries them joyfully up the seven mile road. Seeing Jesus with new and true eyes is what made the difference. Having a whole new relationship with Jesus, based on Jesus dreams, not their own, made all the difference. A new and correct understanding of the Gospel is what made the difference.
No, they didnt change their diet. No, they didn(t delegate more. No, they didn(t exercise more. No they didn(t take an extra day off every week. No, they didn(t go away to the mountains and fast and pray for three days. No, they didn(t go off to a resort and sit in a hot tub and unwind for a week. All the modern day answers for burnout are not what healed these two men. A new experience with Jesus is what started the healing. After . . . after all their dreams, incorrect hopes and understandings were shattered and blown to bits, they were treated to a clear accurate view of Jesus, and a new relationship with him. Thank God for burnout! It hurts like hell, but it keeps us out of hell!
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