Jesus Appears to Two Believers Going to Emmaus

Scripture: Mark 16:12-13, Luke 24:13-35(NIV)

Mark 16:12-13
Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

Luke 24:13-35
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 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?” “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. The chief priests and our 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. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah 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 Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on 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. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 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?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Devotional

Cleopas and another follower of Christ were walking and talking about the crucifixion and burial and missing body stories on the seven mile journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus. This two-hour walk gave them plenty of time to recognize the risen Jesus, who joined them along the way. But they didn’t.

These men were two of the people who were followers of Jesus, and had certainly been with Him many times. Mary Magdalene thought the risen Jesus was a gardener. These guys figured He was an out-of-town stranger, oblivious to the crucifixion scene just days earlier.

Yet Jesus had predicted that He would rise on the third day. Had they thought He was talking metaphorically – that He would rise spiritually but not physically? Were they just too overcome with grief? Did Jesus’ body look different? And what was He wearing? Regardless, they just didn’t recognize their friend.

This is a recurring theme in the early hours and days following the resurrection. People were so sure that Jesus would stay dead, they simply couldn’t “see” Him when He had risen from the dead. And, this is a common problem for those of us who are Christians even today. We just fail to see Jesus, even when He is right there with us.

In today’s reading, it was only when Jesus sat at table with them and broke bread that they recognized Him. Perhaps there is something for us in this. In what ways can you sit and be with Jesus? What would it look like for you to stop all that hustling about, and pause your life to dwell with Him? What media habits are giving you bits and bytes of life, when Jesus wants to break bread and feast with you? What will it take for you to truly recognize Jesus?

Poem

A Single Day

When my foot hits the pavement each morn
A future lies open unborn
The direction I'll go
The people who'll show
Possibilities dawning around me

As I talk with my friends on the way
As we chatter about life today
Some questions we hold
The stories retold
Just trying to understand deeply

When a new voice joins in conversation
Giving clarity to things once mistaken
I perk up my ears
Share thoughts, questions, fears
Each step moving toward destination

As sun's rays descend comes time for resting
Confusion tucked into bed, nesting
Eve's lodging appeal
Refreshed by a meal
Awareness dawns invigorating

Feet, no longer plodding, now flying
New truth, panting fresh, no denying
With eyes opened wide
Good news fueling each stride
My feet pound a glorious rhythm

O the change that a single day brings!
Tune the soul, once in sorrow, to sing
Just one conversation
Re-route destination
One-eighty change for life's direction

Podcast: Week 49

Sermon: Week 49

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.