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Everyone, I'm Mark Foley, and this is the journey. Well, it's Easter, and very likely the strangest Easter any of us will ever experience. Our nation is on virtual lockdown, and we're cautioned to stay away from everyone. Our technology tools have become our very best friends, and we're choosing designer masks to complement our wardrobe. And something called Zoom is the new Google. No doubt about it. The circumstances surrounding this Easter are strange indeed. Even so, the fact of the resurrection of Jesus remains, and that fact changes everything, even in the middle of an international health crisis. Every Easter season, I turn to one particular episode of that resurrection day. It's my absolute favorite. I call it the Seven Mile Walk. It's found in the 24th chapter of Luke, and here's the story. Now that same day, the day the tomb was found empty, two of his followers were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened, about Jesus, about what he had taught them, the marvelous things they had seen him do, his kindness, the miracles. Then there were the unimaginable events of the past three days, the arrest, the brutality, the crucifixion. And then he was dead, gone. And as they talked about all these things with each other, another unimaginable thing happened. Jesus himself came up and walked alongside them. Now the men didn't recognize him. I suppose Jesus showing up after they had seen him dead would have been just about the last thing they could have expected. And in their grief and their bewilderment, he was like a stranger to them. So he asked them, What are you talking about so intently? The men stopped in their tracks and turned to the stranger in absolute disbelief, distress written all over their faces. One of them, Cleopas, spoke. You've got to be kidding. You must be the only person in the country who doesn't know what's been going on. Haven't you heard what's happened? What? the stranger asked. About Jesus of Nazareth, they replied. He was a prophet, such power. In everything he said and did, it was like he was in the presence of God when he was among the people. But the religious leaders arrested him and saw to it that he was sentenced to death, and the Romans crucified him. We hoped he would have been the one to rescue Israel from the Romans. Cleopas continued, but there's more. It's been three days since all this happened. And this morning, some of the women among us told us something absolutely unbelievable. They told us that when they went to the tomb where the body had been placed, they couldn't find him. He wasn't there. And then they told us that they had seen angels. Angels who said he was alive. Then two of the men went to the tomb, Peter and John, and they found it just as the women had said, but they didn't see Jesus. Then the stranger spoke to the two men. He said to them, I know you're shaking. Right now it's hard for you to believe that all you've heard about the Messiah is true. But weren't you taught that the Messiah would experience exactly these things and emerge in glory? Then, beginning with the teaching of Moses, and then also all of the prophets, he explained to them what was said in the scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village of Emmaus, the stranger continued on as if he were going further. But the men urged him, please stay here. It's getting late. It will be dark soon. So he accepted their offer and went into their home. As they sat down to eat, the stranger took the bread. Unusual for a guest, it's a thing a host would do. And he gave thanks and he broke it and began to give it to them. Just like Jesus had done so many times before. And in that moment they realized who it was. The stranger was Jesus. And in that instant of their discovery, he disappeared from their sight. Eyes wide with excitement, they asked each other, weren't our hearts burning inside us when he talked with us on the road? And when he taught us what the scriptures said about the Messiah. Immediately they got up and all but ran the seven miles back to Jerusalem. They found the eleven disciples and the other followers with them. But before the men could tell their story, the others spoke all at once. The two men told them what had happened on the road, how they recognized Jesus when he broke the bread. And while they were all still talking about it, Jesus himself stood among them and he said to them, Peace be with you. I love that story. I suppose the reason I love it so much is because I can relate to being so consumed with the circumstantial stuff swirling around me that I fail to recognize that Jesus is right beside me. But then there are those moments of realization, the reality of his resurrected presence, the reality of his spirit living in me, the reality of his grace and power and love that supersede every other circumstance of life. And I know he's alive. And that changes everything. Even these really strange times. Happy Easter. Peace be with you. Hey, thanks for checking in. Be sure to check the website, effectivesolutions.today. There's a new journey devotional post every morning. And I'll see you next time on the journey.