Luke 24:13-35: That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 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 happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Wander the halls of Lutheran High, and you'll find a large mural rendering of The Road to Emmaus by Robert Zünd. We wanted to make this mural a focal point of our hallways.
Robert Zünd depicts Jesus in the shade, not in the blaze of glory we would expect on the day of His resurrection. As He joins the men on the road to Emmaus, they don’t realize he is the answer to their troubled discussion. He could reveal himself immediately, but as a master teacher, He patiently walks alongside them and asks questions. He knows exactly how everything fits together in their world that was shattered three days before. Their Messiah was put to death and now his tomb is empty. The men don’t recognize the glorious answer to the riddle. They can’t see that God is at work.
Jesus lets them speak. He even allows their sarcasm to roll off his back as they ask, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” After walking with them and listening, Jesus unlocks the Scriptures by showing how Moses and the Prophets point to him. Even now, He doesn’t spoil the surprise but continues to walk with them until they reach their destination. Finally, as He breaks bread and blesses the meal, they recognize the one who sacrificed His own body and blood for them.
If you know Jesus and the glory of His cross and resurrection, you can thank God for having revealed this to you by His Holy Spirit working through his Word and sacraments. Jesus still walks with us today by His Holy Spirit, working through his Church to open to us the Scriptures and create faith that burns within our hearts. We can say with the disciples, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to us.”
