On the Road to Emmaus

Two friends, close associates of Jesus, bowed down by grief and doubt encounter a stranger on the road to Emmaus. Loconte uses this encounter to discuss some of the major themes and questions of Christianity. The men are out of hope. They believed that Jesus was the messiah, but how can they relate this to the man who was taken by the Romans, beaten and crucified. A man who was given up by the Jewish elders as a rabble rouser.

Locante uses each part of the story: meeting the stranger, discussing the happenings in Jerusalem, being taught how the Old Testament points to Jesus, inviting the stranger to come for a meal, and when they break bread, seeing that the stranger is Jesus. Each section deals with a separate problem faced not only by the friends going to Emmaus, but by all Christians. We, too are searchers, looking for meaning in the dark events of the crucifixion.

The book is easy to read. The examples from history as well as today are plentiful and woven into the story to give a comprehensive view of how the story of the Bible is the story of God's promise fulfilled through Jesus Christ.

I highly recommend this book. If you're a believer, it will strengthen your faith, if not, the lucid discussion and myriad examples may have you asking why not. The book is beautifully written, not at all difficult to read and following the thread of the story will awaken you to how the Bible is reporting on events. It is the word of God.

I reviewed this book as part of the Thomas Nelson Booksneeze Program.