No way to have friendship without spending time together

There is a peculiar story unique to Luke’s telling of Jesus’ life. After the resurrection, we know that Jesus revealed Himself to the women who came with spices, but He also converses with loyal friends.

I say they are loyal; however, the picture we catch them in looks a little sketchy. They are leaving Jerusalem. Not expecting any more to the story other than Christ’s horrific death two days prior, they head toward a town seven miles away - Emmaus.

As they walk, another traveler joins them and begins to ask questions. The questions the man asks bother the two disciples. “How have you not heard of what happened to our Rabbi?” They charged.

They discuss all manner of things that Jesus did and how He endured that sad day. They haven’t recognized that this new journeyman is Jesus Himself, living and in the flesh. Our best understanding of why is that Jesus had received a glorified body or that, though alive and well, the torturous scars had mangled his figure beyond recognition.

As they approach the town, they beg Him to stay and eat with them. Even today, our best “meetings” are around the table. After some cajoling, Jesus gives in and then explains the Old Testament in detail all that He had accomplished that had been spoken of by the Law and the Prophets.

The two men were impressed and found a deep understanding of the Scripture, but it wasn’t until Jesus blessed and broke bread that it hit them with whom they were sitting.

Jesus’ teaching didn’t clue them in. Jesus’ scars, voice, questions, presence and nature hadn’t revealed anything to them, yet when they saw him break the bread, they knew. Isn’t it something to recognize something specific from a friend?

My wife used to recognize that I would have a red line on my face when I would get flustered. She would tell me I didn’t have a poker face because she could tell exactly how I felt. So, I grew a beard to cover up my irritating line. I used to have friends who could tell I was joking by my raised eyebrows. I used to watch a preacher so closely that I noticed how his teeth sat in his head.

We become accustomed to the people we spend time with, and we recognize their mannerisms. Watching them talk, use their hands, laugh, walk or eat connects us to one another.

At the heart of all of this is one reality: relationships take time. You must put hours in to have a meaningful relationship, but the reward is lasting friendship with people who may learn you better than you even know yourself.

Jesus had blessed, broke and served bread on two other occasions. The day He fed five thousand men on the side of a mountain and four days before at the last supper.

There was something peculiar about how this man handled dinner. Jesus is called the bread of life and referred to having bread no one else knew about. He illustrated his devastating death by stating He was giving His life for His friends. That life was depicted with bread. Jesus has bread waiting for Peter on the seashore in John 21.

What this whole story comes down to is friends. And, I spell friends “t-i-m-e.” There is no way to have friendship without spending time together, and that’s how you learn to identify a friend’s bread manners, especially when He’s the greatest friend. He said, “No greater love than a man who lays down His life for his friends.”