Hello everyone.
We will continue from my previous post and finish the story of the journey on the road to Emmaus.
28 When they came to the village where they were going, Jesus seemed to be continuing on, 29 but they urged him, “Stay with us! It’s evening and the day is nearly over.” So he stayed with them. 30 He sat with them and took bread, gave thanks, and broke it and then gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but then he was gone.
32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts aflame within us as he spoke to us on our way, and as he explained the Scriptures to us? 33 So they got up and returned to Jerusalem. 34 They found the Eleven and those who were with them, who told them that the :Lord had really risen and appeared to Simon. 35 Then Cleopas and his companion told them what had happened while they were on the road, and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.
In verse 28, Jesus acts as if he is continuing down the road, but Cleopas and his companion urge Jesus to stay with them. At their urging, Jesus agrees to stay with them. They still do not recognize Jesus, and don't recognize him until he breaks the bread and gives it to them. Something about the way Jesus did this opened their eyes to his true identity. Their eyes were opened, and they finally recognize him. But, in that moment, he is suddenly gone.
The two travelers now realize that they had been with Jesus all along, and it seems obvious. They exclaim, “Were not our hearts aflame within us as he spoke to us on our way, and as he explained the Scriptures to us?” The Greek word used here is καιομένη (kaiomenē) is a form of καἰω, which means ‘to cause to be set on fire,” or “to burn.” So, even though they were unaware of their traveling companions's true identity, being in his presence had set their hearts on fire.
They recognized even before they understood that this was Jesus that there was something special going on here. Jesus and his good, thorough explanation of the Scripture had set their hearts on fire.
Was it the message or the messenger that had caused their hearts to burn? The answer is “yes.” Both being with Jesus and gaining a better, more complete, understanding of the Scriptures is something that will set our hearts on fire.
With Jesus gone, these two disciples very quickly head back to Jerusalem. It appears that they left right away rather than wait until morning, even though it was getting late. Apparently it takes about two and half hours to walk seven miles at an average pace. Less than that at a brisk pace, and they were in a hurry.
Upon their return, they search out and find the remaining eleven apostles to tell them what they had witnessed. The Eleven confirm that had seen the risen Jesus. Cleopas and his companion tell the apostles about how Jesus had appeared to them, but that they did not recognize him until he broke the bread.
By this point, Mary Magdalene had seen Jesus. Peter had seen him. Now Cleopas and his unnamed companion had seen him, yet the remaining apostles were still slow to believe, as we will see in the next section of Scripture.
This story begins with two despondent disciples, believing that the prophet and redeemer of Israel had been crucified. Darrell Bock summarizes this passage like this, “How can God possibly work through a crucified person? Unknown to them, the answer appears in their midst….For Luke’s reader the account functions as a summary to provide assurance about resurrection. God can work through crucifixion because it is followed by resurrection….The Lord is risen. He lives and is in their midst. God’s plan has not been thwarted.” (Bock, 1923.) Indeed, God works through challenging circumstances, and here He has worked and brought His greatest victory through the most dire of circumstances.
In Jesus is life. He is the Resurrection and the Life. God cannot be thwarted. It gives me hope in my own challenging circumstances, knowing that God is greater than my circumstances. It reminds me of something I read recently in Dallas Willard’s book, Renovation of the Heart. Willard says, “What we most learn in Jesus’ yoke, beyond acting with him, is to abandon the outcomes to God, accepting that we do not have in ourselves - in our own hearts, souls, minds and strengths - the wherewithal to make this come out right, whatever this is.” (Willard, 218.)
These thoughts encourage, but challenge me. Jesus challenged Cleopas and his companion for their lack of faith. Things didn't work the way they were expecting them to. It was up to them to trust God and leave the outcomes to Him. It is the same for us.
Darrell Bock, Luke: Volume 2 - 9:51-24.53, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Baker Academic, 1996.
Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart, Colorado Springs, Colorado, NavPress, 2002.
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