Chapter 4: The Road to Emmaus

That same Sunday, two disciples left Jerusalem and walked toward a village called Emmaus. One of them was named Cleopas. As they walked they talked through everything that had happened. A stranger fell into step beside them. Luke records that they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked what they were discussing. They stopped, faces heavy with grief.

CLEOPAS“Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”— Luke 24:18

He asked what things. Cleopas told him everything — the crucifixion, the empty tomb, the women's report that morning. They had hoped Jesus was the one to redeem Israel. Now three days had passed and they were walking away from Jerusalem with nothing left to hope for.

The stranger's response was not sympathy. It was a rebuke.

JESUS“How foolish you are and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter his glory?”— Luke 24:25-26

Then beginning with Moses and working through all the prophets, he explained everything in the Scriptures written about himself. Mile after mile, every prophet, every promise, every detail of what had just happened — explained by the man it had happened to, without them knowing who he was.

They arrived at Emmaus as evening approached. The stranger acted as if he would continue on.

DISCIPLES“Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.”— Luke 24:29

He stayed. He sat at the table with them, took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them.

At that moment their eyes were opened and they recognized him. Then he vanished. The recognition and the disappearance happened together — one instant of clarity and he was gone.

DISCIPLES“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”— Luke 24:32

They got up that same hour and walked back to Jerusalem.