On the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24: 13-32) - this story is my favourite Easter Day event. It has fascinating dialogue, a sense of ‘real time feel’ about it and an amazing conclusion about the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 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?”
19 “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. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 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. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 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. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 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?”
Imagine the two travellers. They'd been to Jerusalem for the Passover, and what a weekend it had been! More exciting than they had expected, now with lots to talk about. They had to get home. They could only walk in daylight and so had to leave after breakfast on that Sunday. They’d heard the rumours coming back from the tomb that the body was missing, but could not wait for the conclusion.
Can you imagine them together, probably along with many others, walking along the dusty road from the festival in Jerusalem? They would inevitably be speculating together, and may be chatting to others on the way. A stranger comes up and joins them. I believe that this was a divinely caused lack of recognition necessary to facilitate the power of the conclusion of this story. We know this stranger was Jesus, but they do not.
Jesus asks one of the most extraordinary two word questions in the whole of scripture… “What things?” (verse 19)
This draws out from the two travellers the explanation that immediately gives Jesus the context for his following discussion. What an excellent example of teaching method for us. First, find out the question your listeners are asking, to help you give an answer in context. As we see in this story, Jesus proceeds to explain God’s salvation plan for humankind, as laid out in the Old Testament law and prophets.
The sense of ‘real time feel’ continues. Just as the travellers had to leave Jerusalem early to get home in daylight, so now, the daylight is fading and it would be dangerous to walk on. The travellers show hospitality and invite the stranger to stay with them overnight. Can you imagine them settling in at home, maybe washing their feet and preparing the evening meal? Then the moment of beautiful recognition when Jesus reveals himself in the breaking of bread. The miracle is declared and he disappears.
The amazing conclusion is the one of recognition that the two travellers have together: ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked to us on the road and opened the scriptures to us?”. Luke concludes his gospel – a gospel whose contents he had planned with careful research and ordering (Luke 1: 1-4) – in the same way he started, with another story that shows the work of the Holy Spirit.
As we read this story, let us be encouraged, to walk and talk with each other believing that the Holy Spirit will guide and inspire. May we overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15: 13).
Revd Nigel Rawlinson
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