The story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus is an account that parallel’s particular moments in the lives of many who received Christ into their lives as Savor and Lord, who have acknowledged His deity as the Son of God the Messiah, and have made a commitment of surrender and of love in a relationship of continual intimacy and devotion.
When the challenging events of life that we all experience, test our commitment and relationship with Jesus, sometimes it is easy to be discouraged, confused, and even doubt the validity of our relationship with our risen Savior.
As you read this very short commentary, take a look back to your past, make a mental comparison of your relationship and experience of the times how you questioned your relationship with Jesus and how Jesus showed you His love and concern in a way that was exactly what you needed to hear and experience.
Luke in this account gives details that helps our understanding of the hearts-emotions, minds-thoughts and actions of these two disciples and Jesus of this late afternoon.
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.
The events that Luke begins to tell us about, he points out that it happened “that same day”, which is the same day of the resurrection of Jesus, (Luke 24:1-12). He refers to the two men as “two of them” or two disciples of Jesus. The two disciples were possibly local men because they were going to the “village called Emmaus” which was in close vicinity to Jerusalem, only “about seven miles” to the north-west. In that day a seven-mile walk was relatively a short distance to walk. However, we see in verse fourteen that the seven-mile walk afforded them the opportunity converse with each other about what they had just experienced, which would have started with the jubilant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem just a little over a week before.
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.
These verses give us examples of the love of Jesus towards two of whom He a few days earlier gave His life on the cross for. Jesus could have gone to other more significant disciples but He chose to be with these two at that particular moment. The beautiful example of Jesus’ love and compassion towards these men began with the act of the divine action of keeping His identity hidden from them. One obvious reason was to afford them the freedom to fully express or vent their expectations, discouragement, confusion, and even doubts they had concerning Jesus in the context of the events of the last few days. Jesus always gives the opportunity to tell Him how we feel.
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 only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
Jesus in His deity knew what they were “discussing”. He asked the question to lead them into a conversation, not just to get an answer but to give them the opportunity to open up or to allow them to vent what was weighing heavy on their hearts. Jesus knew what to ask them to “stop them dead in their tracks” “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. Jesus does the same with us, He knows how to get our attention and how to get us to tell Him how we feel or what is occupying our hearts and mind.
Apparently, Jesus was walking in the same direction as were the disciples, from Jerusalem to Emmaus. “Cleopas” assuming that Jesus was in Jerusalem when these events happened, in astonishment he answers Jesus’ question with a question. “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?” What had occurred in Jerusalem concerning Jesus was such a public event it was beyond Cleopas’ understanding that Jesus did not know.
Verse 19a, “What things?” he asked”. Jesus continues the conversation and the opportunity for them to vent by asking a question in which the answer would start exposing what was weighing heavy on the disciple’s hearts. How many times have we experienced when in prayer Jesus does something similar with us? We know Jesus knows what is burdening our hearts when we go to Him in prayer, but Jesus in His love, patiently allows us to express to Him what it is that is troubling us, or in other words to vent.
In spite of all the facts that Cleopas knew about Jesus and how he felt about Jesus, did Cleopas really know who Jesus was? Cleopas knew a lot about Jesus but did he know Him personally?
Starting with verse 19b to verse 24 we see the four parts of Cleopas’ answer which was what was weighing heavy on His heart.
First, we see the “Who”, which is what Cleopas’ answer is based on.
- a) “Who” – verse 19b, “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.” Cleopas gives three true aspects of how he identified or what he knew about Jesus in his answer.
Second is the “What”, this is what happened that caused him to be troubled. Cleopas states three more true facts of what happened to Jesus.
- b) “What” (happened) – verse 20, “The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;”
Thirdly, Cleopas and others had their expectations of what they thought Jesus was going to do.
- c) “Expectations” – verse 21a, but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. It is important to know when we have incorrect expectations about a person, a situation or an issue it usually ends up in disappointment and or confusion.
Forth, Cleopas and others were confused. When we have incorrect expectations that develop into disappointment it is difficult to recognize or discern God’s actions in the situation we are confronting.
- d) “Confusion” – verse 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 him they did not see.” Many times, in our confusion we do not recognize things that God is doing around us because they do not make sense or are not logical.
The reason why Cleopas and the others had wrong expectations, were disappointed and confused about who Jesus was and God’s purpose of sending Him to earth, was because of their ignorance of what scriptures said about Him. Everything we need to know about who Jesus is can be found in the Old Testament Scriptures. That was all that the apostle Paul needed when he went to the synagogues in different cities to prove to them who Jesus was. We see a good example of this in Acts when Paul went to the city of Thessalonica. Acts 17:1-3, “…they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead.”
Jesus could have revealed Himself to the two disciples to convince them who He was, or He could have performed miracles to demonstrate to them who He was. Jesus did not do any of these things, what Jesus used to prove and convince the two disciples was God’s Word, the Old Testament Scriptures. When we place our understanding of Jesus on what others say about Him, or have expectations and beliefs about Jesus which are not based in God’s word, we leave ourselves vulnerable to wrong expectations, disappointment and confusion.
The only convincing proof that Jesus used to prove who He was and to clear up the two disciples false expectations, disappointment and confusion was God’s word, verses 25 to 27. “25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ 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.”
As I previously stated, “When the challenging events of life that we all experience, test our commitment and relationship with the risen Jesus, sometimes it is easy to be discouraged, confused, and even doubt the validity of our relationship with our risen Savior.” In these moments it is vitally important for us to go to God’s word and take our stand on Scripture.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted 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.
These two verses give us a wonderful picture of the love of our Savior Jesus. Jesus had their attention and He was taking them where He wanted them to go while explaining “to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”, verse 27b. In spite of this Jesus did not impose himself upon the two disciples. It was the disciples who invited Jesus to be with them. This is what Jesus will do with us when we are in need of Him. Jesus always waits and gives us the opportunity to invite Him to be with us because we realize the we need Him. And it was at their request and urging Jesus obliged.
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?”
Luke does not tell us how the conversation continued after they entered the house and before Jesus prayed for the meal; however, we see another action of the love of Jesus by Him sitting down at the dinner table with the two disciples. Jesus sitting down at the dinner table was more than a cultural friendly or courteous gesture. Jesus easily could have chosen to refuse their invitation. This personal and intimate gesture and example of love is the very lesson we all need to learn to practice. Jesus tells us in John 15:12, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
Jesus did not have to tell the two disciples who he was. The realization of who Jesus was started with the explanation of the Scriptures but also through the simple sharing of a meal which was a simple gesture and expression of love.
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.
The two disciples had an incorrect understanding about who Jesus was, but it was not until it was explained to them through the Scriptures and also experiencing the love of Jesus that their eyes were opened. And with opened hearts and minds they were able to tell the others of the truth and reality of the resurrected Jesus that they heard about earlier that day but most importantly they were able to tell others how they personally experienced Jesus’ love “…when he broke the bread.”
Pastor John
