Post Resurrection Appearances Two
Emmaus Road Luke 24:13-35
This is the second in our series looking at the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. Last week we were with the disciples in the upper room, this week we are on a journey between Jerusalem and Emmaus. This particular story is very precious to us as when Janet and I were married nearly 28 years ago we were given a verse from this story as a text: “Jesus himself drew near and went with them”. It is my prayer that this text will become powerfully pertinent for all of us as we journey through life, that our experience of life’s journey will be radically transformed by the presence of the risen Christ journeying with us.
Let us join Cleopas and his companion (?Mrs. Cleopas) on their journey. They had been in Jerusalem for the Passover and were now on their way home. As they walked they talked, going over what had happened. I imagine their conversation may have been similar to what we imagined went on between the disciples last week: if only….. and do you remember….. Luke specifically says they were analysing the events, trying to get their heads around what had happened. As they talked Jesus drew near and went with them. There is no hint here that there was anything unusual about his appearing – not like the locked doors, however we are told that they were “kept from recognising him”. We are not told what it was that prevented them from recognising Jesus – were they too preoccupied with their own sense of loss and bewilderment? Had their eye been blinded by the gods of this world? Was it simply unbelief? The sad truth is that many today fail to recognise the risen Christ.
Jesus than asks them what they were talking about – as if he didn’t know! It is so important when talking with people about our faith to start from where they are. I am constantly astounded by how little people truly understand about Christian faith. From his gentle enquiry Jesus discovers that they had recognised he was a prophet powerful in word and deed and that they had hoped he was the longed-for redeemer of Israel. They had also heard rumours of resurrection but quite patently hadn’t either understood them or believed them.
Jesus then rebukes them for being so slow to understand. There are a couple of occasions in the gospels when Jesus rebukes disciples for a lack of faith and I always feel sorry for them. I’m sure that if I had been in their shoes I would have struggled to believe. We now come to the second odd incident. Jesus makes as if he is going on without them as they approach their village. He waits to be invited in. I think there is something more than Middle Eastern hospitality going on here. As they observe later, their hearts were warmed and they wanted to know more. Jesus never forces himself in on people – he always waits to be invited in. How enthusiastically do we welcome him in to our lives?
Recognition comes with the breaking of bread. As Jesus took the bread, broke it and began to give it to them the penny dropped. Much has been written about this especially in relation to how we recognise the risen Lord at communion. Firstly I would say that taking bread, giving thanks and breaking it whilst highly symbolic acts for us were part of the day-to-day routine in Jesus’ day. Secondly it is anachronistic to read back into these acts some early celebration of communion. My own view is that it is not beyond imagination that as Jesus held up the loaf and broke it the sleeve of his garment fell back exposing the nail scars in his wrists. After all, it was these scars as we saw last week, that Jesus used to identify himself. Be that as it may, they instantly recognise him and hot foot it back to Jerusalem.
There are three unusual features in this account. Firstly how they initially are kept from recognising Jesus. Let us pray that our own eyes and those for whom we pray may be open to see the risen Christ. Secondly Jesus, having kept company with them, makes as if to carry on leaving them behind. Is there a danger that we fail to invite Jesus in? Finally, the penny drops. Are we still waiting for this to happen?