Luke 24:13-35
On the Road to Emmaus
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Luke tells the story of that very first Easter afternoon when Jesus has risen and appeared to the two walkers and disciples of His who were walking together along the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus, wondering what had happened the to Him in these last three days...The Walk on the road to Emmaus tells us the story of two of Jesus followers and how they felt about Him, and what they knew and didn't know...They had the feeling of downcast...The had lost their Powerful Prophet in word and deed...Their Beloved Master who had taught them well, and now they felt the loss of His Physical Presence, with His death on the cross...They were downhearted about His death and were thinking about Him and His life, His death, and other things about their Teacher...Their curiosity and with this New Companion with His Wisdom brought them together even closer, yet still they could recognize their Teacher for many hours...The story and images we see about Jesus' and the world's three-day experience - then waiting and wondering what might have happened to Him...The two walkers wondered about Jesus' trial and death...They wondered how and why the women went to the tomb that morning and could not find His Body...But their New Friend and Companion are told it had to happen...The Messiah had to suffer on the cross to enter His Glory....
Then when the two do recognize Him we see a follow-up with Jesus' followers we see the elation and change of emotions in the two...Friends thinking and believing in Jesus, remember Him in their supper with Him and having this feeling of gratitude and gratefulness for seeing Him after His death...His Presence or no Presence they now know He is Divine...He had Risen...And they were blessed with seeing the Real Living Presence of the LORD...
Professor of History Kate Cooper writes: “The brief story of the supper at Emmaus carries within it a number of core principles of the Christian life as Luke understands it...First, the idea that one comes to know Christ through acts of generosity to other human beings...It is because of their kindness to a stranger that the disciples find the Beloved Teacher whom they had lost...Second, there is the idea that they can conjure His Presence in prayer and in communal acts such as the breaking of bread - by remembering His life, death, and resurrection - even in an undistinguished house in an anonymous village...The simple acts of generosity and community in daily life are the acts that make real the Living Presence of Jesus.”...