are returning from Jerusalem to Emmaus, where one of
these disciples lived. While they are walking they are
discussing the strange events of the past few days: the sorrow
of having lost a Friend and Teacher whom they loved; the
report of the women and of Peter and John of the empty tomb;
the phenomena of the open graves, and of reports of people
having talked to departed loved ones.
Along the route which they are walking spring flowers are
in their glory; gold and orange blossoms of the lemon and
orange trees shimmer in the afternoon sun; a gentle breeze is
cooling their worried brows; but Cleopas and his friend, their
heads down as they walk, do not notice these pleasant
surroundings. They are too sad. They agree that they would
love to believe the report of the women, but it was just too
much. Too much!
Suddenly, a Man is walking beside them. So distraught are
they that they do not notice His approach, nor do they look up
when He speaks. “What kind of conversation
is this that you have with one another as you walk and are
sad?” He enquires.
Cleopas answers, “Sir, are you a
stranger in Jerusalem that you do not know of the things which
have happened there in these days?”
“What things?” asks the Man.
“Why the things concerning Jesus of
Nazareth, the Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and
all the people. And how the chief priests and our rulers
delivered Him up to be condemned to death, and crucified.”
Amazed that this Man did not know all these things, the two
men, feeling like the bottom had dropped out of their world,
continue to explain to their companion. “We had such hope
that this great Teacher would be our Savior, but now all that
hope is gone. And besides, this is the third day since His
death, and now more strange things have happened. The women
among us have reported that they have seen an angel. Indeed,
one of them even said that she had seen HIM. The report,
although we would like to believe it, is too incredible.”
The stranger, Christ, now speaks up. He says, “Oh foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe
in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to
have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”
Having gotten the men’s attention, Jesus starts back at the
first account of God’s promise to send salvation to all
mankind, in the Garden of Eden, when God told them that the
woman should overcome the serpent, the evil one; that although
He would be bruised in the process, He would conquer. Jesus
goes through the Old Testament prophecies regarding God’s plan
of salvation, touching on the brass serpent in the wilderness,
how that when it was lifted up by Moses, the people who had
been bitten were healed if they looked upon it. He explains
how this was a picture of Christ’s sacrificial death on
Calvary. He goes on to expound on the prophecies given by
Isaiah: how that Christ would be called a Man of Sorrows,
acquainted with grief, despised and rejected of men, and cut
off from the land of the living. He explains that the Son of
man must be afflicted in order for men to be redeemed from
death.
The two men listen attentively to Christ’s exposition. They
are filled with awe and wonder, then with hope and joy. How
could they have been so blind not to have understood all that
He had been trying to teach them in all the time they had been
following Him? But even yet they did not recognize the
Stranger to be their Lord, and now their journey is over. It
is time to go into the house. How they wish that they did not
have to end this fellowship... But wait! They don’t have to!
Cleopas have an idea. “Sir, it is late. Will you not stop
with us for a meal?”
After a bit of persuasion Christ accepts the invitation and
enters the house with the men. The meal ready, Christ is given
the seat of honor at the table. As in the past He takes the
bread, breaks it into pieces, then blesses it. Slowly–or
perhaps suddenly–the light dawns on the men. This is
Christ! This is our beloved Lord! How could we have been so
blind? He has risen, as He said! Christ is alive! Then
another strange thing happens. Just as mysteriously as He had
appeared to them on the road, Christ disappears from their
presence.
This news is too good to keep to themselves. The men leave
their meal unfinished and hurry back to Jerusalem, and right
up to the UPPER ROOM, where they know they will find the
disciples. Entering, they are greeted with happy shouts.
“Gentlemen, praise be to God! Praise be to God! Christ has
risen! He is alive! Not only have the women seen Him, but He
has appeared unto Simon.”
The two from Emmaus stand in awe at this reception.
“Yes. We know, ” they burst out in unison. “We also
have seen Him.” And then they tell the other ten disciples
all the things that had taken place in the past couple of
hours: how He walked with them and talked with them, how He
expounded the Scripture, how He broke the bread and blessed
it, and how He disappeared suddenly from their midst.
Amidst the shouts of joy and singing that fill the upper
room, there still remains a cloud of gloom. Most of the men
gathered are rejoicing at the wonderful news of Christ’s
resurrection, and of their friends’ report, but some are still
doubtful.
“How can this be? We saw with our very own eyes the
horrible death of our Lord. We saw Him taken from that cross.
We know where He was buried. This news is too incredible.
Unless we see Him ourselves, we cannot accept this
unbelievable news.”
To these, the truth has not yet dawned.