Today I am going to begin a study of a familiar and beloved story that occurred in Luke shortly after the resurrection of Jesus. Join me in the next few days to study and reflect on this text. Here is our text, our story:
The Journey To Emmaeus
“13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” 25 Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread” Luke 24: 13-35.
Emmaus is just a short distance to the west of Jerusalem, and it is Easter Sunday morning. The fact that the disciples did not recognize Jesus suggests that Jesus is still in charge – nobody is going to recognize the risen Jesus except those to whom He wishes to be revealed. The question about who was “in control” or “in charge” of the suffering, death, and resurrections Jesus speaks about so clearly and powerfully in John 10: 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father”
John 10:11-18.
It seems clear that the resurrected Jesus looked visibly different from the pre-resurrected Jesus. When you and I die we will be pure spirits, and we have no idea what that looks like until we die. But on the last day when God raises us from the dead what we look like then, at that moment, is anybody’s guess. But more importantly, it seems to me, is that Jesus was in control of everything that happened to him. He is omniscient, all-knowing, and He came to earth completely out of the love of God. In John 10 above Jesus says that the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. Jesus is the one who lays down His life. He didn’t come and have His life taken over or changed because of other human beings. Jesus alone laid down His life so that he alone could rise from the dead, or take up His life again.
That is the grace of God, for sure, God giving us what we need, not what we deserve. Jesus Christ gave us His life for the forgiveness of sins and for our salvation. You and I live our lives as a pure gift from God. We were not born of our volition and power. We know God only through the grace of God. We clearly have no power except what God, in Jesus Christ, gives us. GRACE! Think about it, if we can recognize Jesus on our own strength and volition, if we are “in control” of recognizing Jesus, if we possess the power to come to know Christ, what then would be the purpose of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection? We have life only through the grace of God.
Don’t be too hard on these disciples who do not recognize Jesus, or because they give up after the death of Jesus, and head home to resume their careers. Put yourself in their shoes, because you and I are just like these two disciples on the road to Emmaeus. This is a story about us! Not someone else!
So take some time today and consider the grace of God.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“But the Lord said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” 2 Corinthians 12:9.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” Ephesians 2:8-9.
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” Hebrews 4:16.
“But by the grace of God I am what I am” 1 Corinthians 15:10.
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