Lk. 24:13-35 - Encounter on the Road to Emmaus

     I love the account of Jesus' first post-Resurrection appearance in Luke where He appears to two lesser-known disciples who had left the Eleven and are heading to their homes in Emmaus, a small town about seven miles from Jerusalem. (Actually, this may have been Jesus' second or third appearance, since He appeared to Mary first (John 20) and possibly next to Peter (1 Cor. 15:5). However, Luke chooses to report this appearance first.)

     I love the story because these two Emmaus disciples are relative unknowns in the New Testament. Luke knows the name of only one, Cleopas. They have been with the Eleven, but they are not apostles. Yet Jesus takes time to reveal Himself to them early on Resurrection Day.
     I have mentioned before that Jesus seems to triage those who are in greatest need and appears to them first. These men are in deep grief and confusion.
     In my office, I have a picture of Jesus with these two Emmaus bound disciples. I purchased it during a time of loss in my life to remind me that Jesus really cared about me personally. From this story, we learn that Jesus comes to us, walks with us, comforts us, and reveals things that will heal our hearts and souls.
     As these two disciples walked along, they were tearfully discussing everything that had happened that Passion weekend, when Jesus caught up with them. Luke tells us "They were kept from recognizing Him" (v. 15). Mark tells us, referring to the same account, that Jesus "appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country" (Mk. 16:12).
     Jesus had a reason for hiding His identity initially. If He revealed Himself immediately, these men's grief would have flipped quickly to ecstatic joy, and they would have had a hard time hearing the Biblical evidence Jesus wanted to share with them--the evidence of the prophets that He was indeed the Messiah and that everything had happened just as God predicted in Scripture.
     Sometimes in life, Jesus' first effort is to help us focus on what His word says so our faith will be established. Sometimes He hides Himself while He points us to the Bible because God's word is the only true foundation for faith.
     Jesus entered the men's conversation by asking what they were discussing as they walked along.
     Luke says "They stood still, their faces downcast." Then Cleopas asked, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened here in these days?" How is is possible you don't know what has happened?
     "What things," Jesus asked?
     "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied, "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and the rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him; 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" (vs. 18-21).
     These disciples express the deep longing and belief all Jesus' disciples' had cherished, that He was the long looked-for Messiah. But, they say, their hopes are dashed.
     The two go on to report incredulously that some of the women had described seeing angels and other disciples had seen the empty tomb, but they didn't know what it all meant.
     Then come, in this narrative, some of the most powerful words in the New Testament: "He said to them, 'How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?' And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scripture concerning Himself" (vs. 25-27).
     Jesus' death and resurrection had been clearly foretold, He told them, in the Hebrew Scriptures. He had tried often to explain these this, but the disciples' minds were clouded with popular beliefs that contradicted the messianic prophecies, beliefs that turned the Messiah into a powerful earthly ruler who would conquer kingdoms and lead Israel to national glory.
     So now Jesus gives Cleopas and his friend a Bible study. Beginning with the writings of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy), and continuing through the writings of the Hebrew prophets, Jesus points out the Scriptures that foretold His ministry, suffering, death, and resurrection.
     I would love to have heard that Bible study! Later the men said, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" (v. 32). Can you imagine the earnestness in Jesus' voice as He took them, perhaps, through Genesis 3:15, Deuteronomy 18:15-18, Psalm 22 and 69, Isaiah 9:6-9, 53 and 61, and Zechariah 12 and 13?
     Isaiah 53 not only predicted the manner of Jesus' death, but clearly described His resurrection too: "After the sufferings of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied" (v. 11). "Though the Lord makes His life a guilt offering, He will see His offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in His hand" (v. 10).
     Daniel said the Messiah, "the Anointed One," (v. 26) would be "cut off " (killed) in the middle of the final week (7 years) of the 70 Week Prophecy, but after His death, He would confirm the covenant with many" (9:27). In other words, He would die, then be resurrected to continue His covenant establishing work with His people.
     Cleopas and his friend had been mournfully nursing their dashed hopes, but as this Stranger helped them understand that what had happened was exactly what God predicted, they begin to feel an amazing hope.
     How long Jesus walked and talked with them, we don't know, but as they neared Emmaus, it was late in the evening, and concerned for their friend's safety, they urged Him to stay with them for the night. Luke says, "Jesus acted as if He were going farther. 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" (vs. 28-29).
     They brought out food for dinner, and when Jesus took the bread and broke it, "Their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and He disappeared from their sight" (v. 31).

      Imagine their shock and amazement. They have just been walking and talking with the resurrected Christ! They can't contain their excitement and joy, and in the gathering darkness, they rush back the seven miles to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples their story.
     There are many lessons in this beautiful story for us today. Jesus cares for all His followers. There are no "insignificant" disciples to Him. Never feel you are unimportant to God or Heaven. He gives equal care to all His children, and special care to those who are in greatest need.
     Jesus wants to ground our faith in His word, the Scriptures, even more than giving us the emotions of joy. An old children's song says, "Feelings come and feelings go and feelings are deceiving. Trust alone in the word of God; nothing else is worth believing." Real happiness is based on God's word. Jesus may reveal Himself to you in special ways, but never contrary to what His word teaches.
     Lastly, I wonder what would have happened if the two disciples from Emmaus had not urged Jesus to stay with them. Would they have missed the opportunity to know it was Jesus who had been talking to them? Jesus agreed to stay only when they urged Him to do so. Do we need to urge Jesus to be with us more than we do? Not because He is unwilling, but because He never forces Himself on anyone? How many blessings have we missed because we haven't been more serious about seeking God, because we haven't urged Him to stay with us?

Pastor Michael Brownfield