KJV Luke 24:13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
Those who appreciate the liturgy and the historic pericopes read the selection above on Easer Monday. It is the very first appearance of Jesus after the resurrection. Two disciples were walking toward Emmaus when Jesus met them, but they were restrained from recognizing Him at first.
One man gave the name Cleopas, so the two were from the outer circle of followers, perhaps the 70, not from the 12. Cleopas' answer revealed that all of Jerusalem was talking about the resurrection, not just the followers. This is an important clue about the rapid growth of the early Church. How could the stranger not know what everyone from Jerusalem was discussing! As Lenski wrote, the answer did not address the actual question, so Jesus asked again, "What were you actually discussing?"
So we have this beautiful early description of the events immediately after the resurrection, plus a summary of Jesus' ministry from a follower. The statement sounds like a creed, poetic in nature:
1. Jesus of Nazareth was a great Prophet
2. In Word and deed before the the people and God.
3. Our leaders delivered Him over to a sentence of death.
4. They crucified Him.
5. We hoped He would ransom Israel.
They had great faith, but they were confused and perplexed. They knew the empty tomb had been discovered, angels speaking to the women, and the tomb's condition confirmed by some of the disciples. No one had seen the risen Lord up to that point. They had many of the facts but could not put them together.
Jesus responded:
O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
This is one of several important passages, showing us that Jesus carefully taught His followers after the resurrection. They were eye-witnesses of the risen Messiah and also well trained in the meaning of the crucifixion and resurrection. If anyone wants to know how important Lent and Easter are for worship, simply count the chapters concerning the Passion and Empty Tomb, and estimate the percentage of each Gospel devoted to that narrative.
Jesus expounded the Scriptures - The New Testament did not yet exist, so Jesus taught them from the Old Testament, showing us the unified truth of His message. This unity is clearly reflected in the Gospels, Epistles, and Revelation.
The disciples asked Jesus to stay with them, still not knowing who He was. As the meal started, He was revealed before their eyes. As Lenski noted, they complained earlier about the implication of the Empty Tomb "but Him they did not see." They were telling the risen Christ that no one had actually seen the risen Christ at this point. Now they knew at once, suddenly, that Christ Himself had been walking with them and teaching them from the revealed Word. Jesus left as easily as He did from the sealed tomb, as easily as He entered the locked room later that day, where the disciples were gathered "for fear of the Jews."
John Calvin claimed, "The finite cannot contain the infinite," and yet the Incarnation is proof he was wrong. The human nature of Christ was and is united with His divine nature, but His divine nature is never inhibited by His human nature. Thus a Holy Communion service can be held in sealed bunker in a secure, undisclosed location, when the Word consecrates the elements.
They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning in use, as He was talking to us on the way, as he was opening to us the Scriptures?" The two disciples immediately returned to Jerusalem, where they learned Jesus had also appeared to Peter. How could they not share this news?
First the women discovered the Empty Tomb.
They told John and Peter, who had a race to the Tomb, which they also found empty.
Jesus appeared to the two on the way to Emmaus.
He also appeared to Peter.
The next appearance is read on Easter Tuesday.
