| Mark 16:12-13 (NLT) | Luke 24:13-32 (NLT) |
|---|---|
| 12 Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country. 13 They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them. | 13 That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16 But God kept them from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. 18 Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.” 19 “What things?” Jesus asked. “The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. 20 But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. 21 We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago. 22 “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. 23 They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! 24 Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.” 25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” 27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, 29 but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. 30 As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! 32 They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” |
I intend to keep this pericope or segment together as one unit as we move through analysing it. But there are four segments to this story, even five if we add an epilogue.
- The Two on the Road (Luke 24:13-16 + Mark 16:12)
- Conversation with a “Stranger” (Luke 24:17-24)
- Jesus Explains the Scriptures (Luke 24:25-27)
- Breaking the Bread – the last Last Supper (Luke 24:28-31a)
- Epilogue (Luke 24:31b-32 + Mark 16:13)
Segment One: The Two on the Road (Luke 24:13-16 + Mark 16:12)
Luke has left us following the involvement of the disciples who were told the news of Jesus resurrection by the women with the notion that this is all too unbelievable. Too much to cope with; it just cannot be. There is an overwhelming cloud of disbelief over them. It is at this point that Luke introduces this story of the two on the road to Emmaus. The Greek version of the story begins with a statement of astonishment. Behold introduces an account which is astonishing in numbers of ways. Literally we are told “two of them” were walking to Emmaus. Two of whom? Two of the wider band of disciples. These are likely two of the disciples who were gathered to hear the report of the women. It seems they were on the fringe of the crowd of the hearers back in Jerusalem and they have separated themselves and headed off to Emmaus.
They decided to walk to Emmaus, which we are told by Luke is only 7 miles away (11.2 kms). So at walking pace estimated to be between 3 to 3.5 miles an hour they could expect to take around two hours to get to Emmaus. Where was Emmaus? It is hard to pin point exactly where Emmaus was. The traditional location for Emmaus has been thought to be Amwas (Emmaus-Nicopolis) on the Jerusalem – Joppa road. Yes there is a similarity with the name but Emmaus-Nicopolis is located approximately 20 miles from Jerusalem. It is hardly likely that Luke would confuse a place 20 miles with a place 7 miles away. Luke was detailed, therefore we are to assume this Emmaus was approximately 7 miles away. The most probable location is Kubeibeh which is located 7 miles to the north-west of Jerusalem on the Roman road. It was Kebeibeh which was called Emmaus by the Crusaders during the Middle Ages. But in this story it is not important for us to accurately pin point where Emmaus was; that is not the focus. We can assume that Emmaus was the village where these two disciples lived if we take note of the inference contained in Luke 24:28-29. These two disciples were returning home following the Passover celebrations.
As they head home they talk about “all these things that had happened”. What “things” were they talking about? It depends where we place the boundaries of what they were talking about. How long have they been in Jerusalem? If they went into the city for the beginning of the Passover Week then they have witnessed the Triumphal Entry, the stirrings on the part of the religious leaders, the cleansing of the temple, the arrest, the trial, the crucifixion, the darkness, the earthquake, the open graves, the appearance of people who had died and finally the report of the women that firstly the grave stone had been rolled aside and tomb was empty followed closely by the news that Mary Magdalene had seen Jesus alive and well. Those were significant things to be talking about. Was their discussion from as far back as the triumphal entry or was it just focused on the happenings recorded in Luke 24? Well we don’t know for sure how far back they were focused in their discussion but it is for sure these two were talking about the women’s reports of Jesus resurrection and were deeply engrossed in conversation.
While they were walking along they were literally [homileo] “talking” and [suzeteo] “discussing”. Luke could have chosen either one of these two words to convey the meaning of what was happening. But used together the two words strengthen the idea that a lively discussion was occurring back and forth between them as they walked along. The use of both words could also contained the notion of “conversing” and “questioning”. Could it be that one was inclined to believe the women’s accounts while the other was more skeptical? There was a lively debate going on during this conversation. The words used could certainly hold that inference. What is clear is that these two were totally absorbed in their discussion and as the text tells us WHILE they were walking and conversing, Jesus drew near and joined them. The verb to draw near [eggizo] contains no directional indication. He just came close. One assumes from the direction of Jerusalem, I e. from behind them but it is not stated clearly. Perhaps they were so engrossed in their discussion that their pace had slowed and thus Jesus caught them up. They hardly noticed the “stranger” who had caught up to them. There is nothing spectacular or supernatural in His appearing beside them unlike His departure from them after the meal. On this occasion it was a totally unremarkable, perfectly natural thing which happened. He just approached them as any human being would approach another. But don’t miss the inference of what had just happened. The One who was the focus of their discussion had joined them. Wow! That is significant. At first He simply caught them up and walked with them without saying a thing. He didn’t join in their conversation. He just simply listened to what they were talking about.
Now we come to a very significant verse.
“But God kept them from recognizing Him.”
Luke 24:16 (NLT)
This will be our focus of conversation for the next Gem. Take time to ponder it.
- What does it mean?
- What is this verse saying happened?
- What is the reason why these two disciples did not recognise Him?
Here are the ways in which the versions have handle the translation of the Greek statement:
οἱ δὲ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτῶν ἐκρατοῦντο τοῦ μὴ ἐπιγνῶναι αὐτόν.
The but eyes {of them} {prevented/kept} the not {knowing/recognising} Him
- (AMP) But their eyes were held, so that they did not recognize Him.
- (ASV) But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
- (BBE) But their eyes were not open that they might have knowledge of him.
- (CEV) But they did not know who he was.
- (EMTV) But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not recognize Him.
- (ESV) But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
- (GNB) they saw him, but somehow did not recognize him.
- (GW) Although they saw him, they didn’t recognize him.
- (ISV) but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
- (KJV) But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
- (LITV) But their eyes were held so as not to recognize Him.
- (MKJV) But their eyes were held so that they could not know Him.
- (MSG) But they were not able to recognize who he was.
- (NASB) But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.
- (NLT) But God kept them from recognizing Him.
- (RV) But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
- (YLT) and their eyes were holden so as not to know him,
I leave you a day to ponder the significance of this statement.
Realize that God is doing right, even when you don’t understand why He works the way He does.
Anon
Your greatest obstacle to personal growth isn’t ignorance; it’s the illusion of knowledge. It’s in believing you’ve ‘arrived.’
Bob Gass
It’s not what you go through in life that messes you up; it’s what you keep going back to!
Bob Gass
Everything you go through grows you.
Anon
You can’t learn to trust God by hearing how your friend trusts Him. Take the step of faith and trust for yourself; You’ll grow.
Ian Vail