Jesus Never Caught AnxietySample

Another Example of Jesus’ Differentiation in Action

After Jesus died and rose from the dead, many people still didn’t know of his resurrection. Cleopas and his traveling companion were two of those people, and as they were journeying on the road to Emmaus, Jesus came and walked alongside them.

Luke uses an interesting phrase to describe what happens when Jesus joins them. He says, “They were kept from recognizing him.” While one may suggest that it was God’s sovereignty that kept them from recognizing Jesus, I’d like to explore another explanation.

One of the signs we’re in anxiety’s grip is that we no longer recognize that Jesus is with us. We feel like everything is up to us, and anxiety begins to blur reality and distort our thinking, causing us to forget that God promises never to leave or forsake us. As we take a closer look at these travelers, we can see they are carrying a lot of anxiety.

When Jesus approaches the two, he basically asks, “What are you guys talking about?”

And while Cleopas gives Jesus a very polite, first-century Jewish answer, he’s incredulous that the question was even asked. How could this new traveling companion not know what’s been happening in Jerusalem lately?! Cleopas goes on to say that their Lord and Savior has been killed, and they don’t know where his body has been taken.

Cleopas and his companion are clearly upset by this, but Jesus does not take on their anxiety. It’s amazing that even though Jesus is the topic of their worry, he doesn’t immediately relieve them of it! He doesn’t say, “Hey, it’s me, Jesus! Don’t worry!” He did not feel the need to fix their problem by resolving who he was; He remained connected in the midst of their grief.

That’s the difference between differentiated Jesus and enmeshed us. So often, when we’re around others who are anxious, we feel an urgent need to relieve them of their anxiety, and we carry burdens that we’re never meant to carry. But Jesus is very clear on when to carry a burden and when to walk alongside.

The road to Emmaus is several miles long. For two to three hours, Jesus calmly walks beside Cleopas and his companion, along with their anxiety. It’s an incredible example of differentiation. When they arrive at their destination and have a meal, they recognize Jesus for who he is when he breaks the bread.

Because Jesus did not resolve the travelers' tension but allowed them to stay in their anxiety while calmly connecting with them, they had a deeper and more intimate encounter with the Risen Savior.

When the men realized Jesus’ identity, they proclaimed, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us?” While God does not promise that our path will be smooth, He does promise that he will always be with us, and remembering that promise keeps us out of anxiety’s grip.

How can you walk alongside others in their anxiety without taking on their burdens as your own?