April 19, 2026
Our story today happened on Easter, so I want to say something with you that we often say at Easter: He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! I love saying that!
Easter was two weeks ago, so you may wonder why we say it now, but here’s something to remember: Every Sunday is a small Easter. We celebrate Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil every single Sunday. Every Sunday is a small Easter.
Do any of you like hiking? In our Bible story, two disciples are walking eleven kilometres, leaving Jerusalem a couple of days after Jesus was buried. Jesus shows up to walk with them, but He doesn’t allow them to recognise Him yet. Jesus walks with them those eleven kilometres. While they’re walking, He talks to them. He teaches them. He teaches them everything from the Old Testament that points to Him being the Saviour or Christ. It’s very similar to what pastors, Sunday School teachers, and parents do when they teach you stories from the Bible. We show you how the stories point to Jesus.
After they’ve listened to Jesus teach them along the way, they arrive at a house and ask Jesus to stay with them. Jesus prays before the meal, and when He blesses the bread and gives it to them, they finally do recognise Him. And just like that, He disappears.
The disciples are so excited that they run all the way back to Jerusalem, all eleven kilometres! They find the other disciples gathered together. They’re excited to tell the others, “We’ve seen Jesus!” But you know what? The disciples in Jerusalem are just as excited because Jesus had appeared to Peter, too.
Here’s what Jesus set up with those disciples that we still follow today: He first taught them His Word. The Word of God worked on them. The Holy Spirit opened their hearts and minds to understand. They loved the stories. They loved hearing how Jesus saved them and is with them. They were filled with His Word and love, so they ran back to share it with the others. And the disciples wouldn’t share it just with other people who believe in Jesus. For the rest of their lives, they’d be the ones to teach people the Bible, about Jesus, who saved them from their sins and walks with them on their journey through life. That’s exactly what we’re doing right here today. We learn these stories. We believe. And we go tell others.
Dear Jesus, help us to be just like those disciples who listened to You and ran to tell others about You! Amen.