The Road to Emmaus
Dearly beloved of God, after the morning's events, later in the day Jesus appeared to two men on the Road to Emmaus.
Mark 16:12 and 13
After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
The Lord Jesus Christ appeared “in another form,” means in a different form. His resurrected body could function in new dimensions after his resurrection from the dead. The gospel of Luke elaborates on this event.
Luke 24: 13-16
And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
Their “eyes were holden,” meaning they were prevented from recognizing him.
Luke 24:17-19a
And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 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? And he said unto them, What things?
What Cleopas said would have been like saying, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem? Don’t you know what has happened?”
Jesus acted as if he did not know, and asked, “What things?”
By the way, do you think they would have been sad had they believed Jesus had risen from the dead?
Luke 24:19b-24
And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done. Yea and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 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. 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.
The men rehearsed the events of the day to Jesus. This was the third day since he had been crucified and buried, which would make it the fourth day, the eighteenth of Nisan, our Sunday.
They had heard reports that Jesus had been raised from the dead, but like the others, they did not understand, nor believe the prophecy that he would rise again out from among the dead. They had hoped that Jesus had been Israel’s redeemer.
Luke 24:25-29
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 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.
Jesus Christ did not share his resurrection experiences with them; instead, he opened the scriptures, and put them together for them. He went through Moses and the prophets, pointing out the prophecies that concerned him.
On the day after his resurrection Jesus spent time with two men who had hoped that he was the Christ, the Redeemer of Israel.
They had heard the report from Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved that had been to the sepulcher, and saw the undisturbed grave clothes lying there without a body in them. They heard the report from Mary Magdalene that she had seen the Lord, and what he said. He was risen.
These two had been with the disciples when the women brought the report that he had risen from the dead and was alive. They were confused and perplexed about the reports and what had occurred. Now the resurrected Christ himself was teaching them, although they did not recognize him.
Luke 24:30-32
And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 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?
Jesus Christ was their dinner guest, yet he took the bread from them and blessed it, which only the host would do according to Eastern hospitality. Suddenly they recognized who he was, and then he vanished right before their eyes. What a record!
Luke 24:33-35
And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon [Peter].” And they [Cleopas and the other disciple] told what things were done in the way, and how He was known of them in breaking of bread.
The reports were still coming in, “And as they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, “Peace be unto you.”
Put yourself in their sandals. What a day it had been, and it was not over yet. Jesus was risen from the dead!