Hazelwell Church

​Hazelwell Weekly Contact 19th April 2026

15 Apr 2026 • Weekly Notices

Third Sunday of Easter

Hazelwell Methodist Communion

Led by Rev Tony McClelland

Please remember in your prayers

  • Residents of Topsham Croft andKings Terrace.
  • Please pray for Tony as he prepares for the service this week.
  • Pray for all who are returning to school, college or university this week and have exams in prospect.

Reflection on Luke 24:13–35 (The Road to Emmaus)

This passage tells the story of two disciples walking to Emmaus after the crucifixion. They are confused, discouraged, and trying to make sense of everything that has happened. As they walk, Jesus joins them—but they don’t recognize Him.

One of the most striking elements here is how present Jesus is, even when He is not recognized. The disciples are deeply absorbed in their disappointment: they had hoped Jesus would be the one to redeem Israel, yet now He is dead (or so they think). Their expectations blinded them to the reality unfolding right in front of them. Just as we, too, can miss God’s presence when life doesn’t go the way we expected.

Jesus responds not by immediately revealing Himself, but by walking with them and explaining the Scriptures. He reframes their understanding—showing that suffering was not a failure of God’s plan, but part of it. Thus we are reminded that understanding often comes through reflection and learning, not instant clarity. Sometimes God teaches before He reveals.

The turning point comes at the table. When Jesus breaks the bread, their eyes are opened. In this way, we see once more the importance of fellowship, hospitality, and shared sacred acts. Furthermore that Christ is often most clearly recognized not just in intellectual understanding, but in relational and spiritual experience.

After recognizing Him, the disciples immediately return to Jerusalem, filled with renewed energy and purpose. Their despair turns into urgency and hope. Their reflection: “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road?” is key. Even before they recognized Him, something within them was being stirred. Just as God is often working in us before we fully understand it..

Ultimately we are reassured that doubt, confusion, and even misplaced expectations are not barriers to encountering Christ—they are often the very setting in which He meets us.