Where is Emmaus?

Nicopolis ("Emmaus") Byzantine ruins of Nicopolis were excavated in the 1920s.  more

The literal answer? It is a city about seven miles from Jerusalem. I have a different answer for the question that I'll share a bit later. At the risk of seeming to detour away from our scripture today, I begin with a true story. Laura is a student at Juniata College, an ed major who anticipates teaching in elementary school. She is part Korean, part Native American and has three children. Recently she sat down with her family, including her extended family on her husband's side, at a restaurant for a meal. The restaurant was somewhat busy, so she didn't suspect anything at first when the drinks her family had ordered were delayed in coming. When nearly and hour passed, they still waited with some patience. It was another 45 minutes before food began to arrive and she noticed that neighboring tables, people who had arrived later, had already received food at their tables. The waitress also seemed not only to be frustrated, but rude, especially to Laura and her children, who were the ...