The Shepherd of Emmaus
By: Robert J. Oprisch
© 1999

As we walked away despairing,
Where our road would end - not caring,
Shattered dreams and rumors sharing,
A Shepherd asked how we were faring.

Oh Shepherd, have you never heard,
Of the prophet mighty in word?
Oh Shepherd, have you never seen,
Jesus Christ the Nazarene?

We had hoped he'd be our King,
And for us, redemption bring.
We had hoped he'd be our Lord,
And vanquish foes with two-edged sword.

At His arrest we fled despairing.
They hung Him on a cross - not caring.
Among themselves His garments - sharing.
Heedless to how He was faring.

The Shepherd sighed and shook his head.
"You sound as if your King’s still dead!
Don’t you know the prophets said,
That One must suffer in your stead?"

"That One must bear your sins and shame,
This is the reason that He came.
He calls each one of you by name,
To set your hearts of stone aflame."

He spoke like this till end of day,
Then hinted He’d be on His way.
But we persuaded Him to stay,
And hoped that He’d have more to say.

But when He blessed and broke the bread,
We knew He was raised from the dead,
We knew He was the One we sought,
That with His death our lives He bought.

Then he disappeared from sight.
Darkness died that very night.
Gloom was gone, and all was bright,
When Christ became our guiding light.

We had wandered from the fold,
So the Shepherd as foretold,
Walked with us and bore our pain,
Restored our Faith and Hope again.

So we returned, but not despairing
Back to those we left, now caring
About the Shepherd’s flock, and sharing
With His friends how He was faring.