The Road to Emmaus
On the Sunday afternoon two followers walk the seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus, talking over everything that has happened. A stranger joins them and asks what they are discussing, and they stop, their faces downcast. One of them, Cleopas, asks whether he is the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know.
Their summary is a small masterpiece of disappointment: we had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel. They mention the women's report of an empty tomb and angels, and clearly do not know what to do with it.
He walks them through the scriptures, and they press him to stay when they reach the village. He is recognised in the breaking of the bread — at which point he vanishes. They walk the seven miles straight back to Jerusalem the same evening, asking each other whether their hearts had not been burning.
Where in scripture
[13] Behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem. [14] They talked with each other about all of these things which had happened. [15] While they talked and questioned together, Jesus himself came near, and went with them. [16] But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. [17] He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?” [18] One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things which have happened there in these days?” [19] He said to them, “What things?” They said to him, “The things concerning Jesus, the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; …
Luke 24:13–35 — opening verses
[36] As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be to you.” [37] But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. [38] He said to them, “Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts? [39] See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.” [40] When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. [41] While they still didn’t believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” [42] They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. [43] He took them, and ate in front of them. …
Luke 24:36–49 — opening verses
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
