Quietude – April 27-28, 2019

The Emmaus Road

Dr. Luke, the only Gentile Gospel writer tells us the story in Luke 24.13-35 of Jesus on the Emmaus Road. It was the first day of the week, the same day Jesus appeared to Mary M. in the garden. Cleopas and another follower of Jesus were on their way to Emmaus, a town approximately seven miles northwest of Jerusalem. Does the name Cleopas sound familiar? Because! John tells us in chapter 19 v.25 that Mary, the wife of Cl(e)opas stood by the cross with Jesus’ mother Mary, Mary’s sister (Jesus’ aunt), and Mary Magdalene – remember? Because of John’s mention of Cleopas (spelling’s can be a tad different but be the same), history tells us that it was probably Cleopas and his wife Mary on the Emmaus Road. Women, do you not love that? Haven’t we always presumed it was two men on the Emmaus Road!

Cleopas and Mary

Jesus encounters Cleopas and Mary on their walk – yet, they do not recognize Him. Cleopas and Mary are walking along, sad and downcast discussing the events of the past few days – Jesus begins walking with them and asks why they are so sad – Cleopas answers Jesus, whom they do NOT recognize at all, Are you the only one in Jerusalem that doesn’t know what’s happened? What has happened? Jesus of Nazareth, a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all people was crucified – we were certain He was the One who would redeem Israel. But yet, today is the third day since His death and burial and some of the women went to the tomb this morning to dress the body and they found it empty. The women talked of angels who told them He was alive. Then a couple of the men went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said but no one has seen Him since.

Then this happens next:

Jesus said to them, “Why are you so thick-headed? Why do you find it so hard to believe every word the prophets have spoken? Wasn’t it necessary for Christ, the Messiah, to experience all these sufferings and then afterward to enter into his glory?” Luke 24.25-26 (The Passion translation)

Back to Jerusalem

Then, Jesus starts telling Cleopas and Mary everything about Himself from the Holy Scriptures. The three arrive in Emmaus, Jesus acts as though He is going farther but Cleopas and Mary invite him in to stay and have dinner with them. (They still don’t realize it is HIM.) When they sat down to eat, Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them – immediately their eyes were opened to SEE that it was Jesus Himself at their table! The minute they knew it was HIM? He vanished. They sat their dumbfounded asking one another, didn’t our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road! That very moment they got up and went BACK TO JERUSALEM to tell the eleven He was risen indeed! Then, they proceeded to tell the others everything that had happened on the road and that they knew it was HIM the second He broke the bread!

From the book “31 Days in the Gospel of John.”