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It is difficult to put these appearances in any kind of order, but it appears that this appearance was His second or third, depending how you look at the ones that we just studied. It is still Sunday, the third day after His crucifixion, two disciples, not of the twelve, were walking from Jerusalem toward the village of Emmaus. One was named Cleopas and the other was not named. Emmaus was about 7 miles west of Jerusalem.
As they walked, they talked about the events of the past days. Especially about the rumors that some women had gone to the tomb of Jesus that morning and had found the tomb empty. These women also claimed that an Angel had told that Jesus had risen from the dead and they reasoned among themselves the possibility of the resurrection. Soon they were joined in their walk by a stranger. They did not recognize Him as the risen Lord. Sometimes our eyes are closed to His presence. This was done that they might talk more freely and discuss with Him what was on their hearts and minds.
Notice how He drew out from them their thoughts by suggesting questions. We are encouraged by Jesus to question things that we do not understand even though we sometimes do not like the answers. Notice the first question that Jesus poses to the two disciples. "What were you talking about that made you so sad?" Lets see how we might answer that for these two men.
Notice how the two responded to the question. They were disturbed that anyone could possibly not have known about the events of the past few days. Everyone was sad accept those who were responsible for His death. It did not occur to them that this stranger might be one of them, surly the Pharisees would be out tracking down His followers. But these men were full of Christ's teachings and were eager to tell others without thought of their own lives.
Notice Jesus leads them into a testimony. "What things are you talking about?" They take the clue and relate all that they could remember about Jesus. Notice what they remembered. "There was a man in these parts for some years and His name was Jesus." "He was a Prophet, a Teacher sent from God." "He confirmed this by His miracles." "He was mighty in deed and word before the people." "He had great acceptance with God." "Only a stranger in Judah would not have known this." "This great man was delivered up to be condemned to death and crucified by the Chief Priests and Rulers." It is strange that they did not more severely condemn those who were responsible for His death, but notice they do show their disappointment. "We trusted that He might have been the one that would redeem Israel, we thought that He was the promised Messiah, the one who would deliver Israel and set up His Kingdom."
"But now He is dead." "Yes, He said He would die, but He also said that He would rise in the third day, and this is the third day and all is silent accept for some rumors that were spread by some women who had gone out to the tomb early this morning." "They said that they had seen a vision and Angels told them that He was alive." "But we doubt this because women are easily imposed upon." "They also said that some of the Apostles had visited the tomb and found it empty also, but they did not see Him." "Surly, if He was risen, He would have shown Himself to them."
Jesus heard all that they said and had compassion upon them, even though they demonstrated lack of faith and hearts that were wicked and weak. He condemned them for being "slow to believe". This was the result of them being prejudice born out by their assessment of women and their lack of belief in the writings of the prophets. All this had been prophesied and needed to come to pass. The cross, the very thing that was the cause of their sadness, was the "appointed" way for Christ to be "glorified". Besides, The Messiah had to suffer these things, thus the cross was not a hindrance but rather proof of His Messiahship. He could not have saved us if He had not suffered.
Secondly, when He had suffered these things, He would enter into His glory. We to are destined to receive, first, the crown of thorns and then, the crown of glory. Then Jesus expounded the scriptures to them. Beginning with Moses and the Prophets, He showed how He had fulfilled all that was prophesied concerning the Messiah. The two men listened with great interest and as they came to the end of their journey, and it appeared that the stranger was going on, they pleaded with Him to stay the night with them.
We cannot but wonder what would have happened if they had not invited Him to come in with them. Would He have revealed Himself to them? We know He has promised that if we welcome Him He will enter and dwell with us and this He did with these two disciples.
He probably continued to talk to them as they settle in to a dwelling and then set down for some nourishment. Notice how He opened their eyes so that they knew who He was. When they sat down to eat He took bread, blessed it and gave it to them. Notice there was nothing miraculous about this meal. It was just an ordinary meal to which Jesus had been invited to attend and for which, God was thanked. The "mist" that had covered their eyes, like the vail of the Temple, was lifted and there was no question in their minds that the stranger with whom they had been talking was Jesus, the Christ. With this revelation, His work was done and He immediately disappeared. It was to them but a glimpse of the risen Lord but it left a lasting impression.
As they set there at the table, reflecting about the last few hours, they said to one another, "Did not our hearts burn within us?" Looking back at the words of Jesus to these two men we see this:
Well, what did these two do with the message? "They rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem." They did not wait until morning, they had talked to the risen Lord and they had to tell somebody about it. They were no longer tired from the days walk nor hungry from the days fast. They had found joy and happiness and they had to tell the Disciples.
Notice what the Disciples were doing when the two found them in Jerusalem. They were setting around talking about the events of the day, discussing the possibility of the resurrection. Peter and John related what they had seen that day. Also the women told of their encounter with the Angel and later with the risen Lord. And now the two men from Emmaus relate their experience with Jesus that day. They tell the others of the words that He had spoke and all were filled with joy and exhilaration. Their conclusion..... Surly the Lord had risen from the dead that day.
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