Luke 24:13-3513And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 33And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. (Luke 24:13‑35)
The day the Lord Jesus arose from the tomb, two persons started from Jerusalem to go to a village several miles away. As they walked along, they talked of the death of Jesus and were very sad.
Suddenly another person was walking with them, whom they thought a stranger. He asked them why they were sad, and they said, “Art Thou a stranger in Jerusalem and knowest not these things that are come to pass there in these days?”
He asked them, “What things?”
They said, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, Who was a prophet, mighty in deed and word... and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and have crucified Him.”
They said they had expected He was the One to save the nation Israel. They told of the women going to the tomb that morning and had astonished them with their story of the angels who said Jesus lived; that some of the men had gone to the tomb and found it empty. They had wondered, but had not believed.
The person, they thought a stranger, then told them that they were slow to believe the words written in the Scriptures of the Holy One to come. He said, “Ought not Christ (the anointed One, or Messiah) to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?”
Then He explained to them what the prophets had written of that One.
By that time they reached the village and the house to which they were going, and He started to walk on, but they urged Him to come in and stay with them, because it was near night, and He went in.
When food was served, He took bread and blessed it, and broke and gave to them. At that instant they realized Who their Guest was,—the Lord Jesus!
No one else could give thanks or would give to them as He had, and made them know Him, but He then vanished from them. They wondered that they had not known Him before, and said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?”
They meant they felt love and reference for His holy presence, though they had not realized Who He was. They were so happy that Jesus was alive, that they did not wait to rest, but started at once the long walk back to the city to tell the others, who loved Him.
The village was a distance of threescore (60) furlongs, about seven miles, no doubt over hills.
When the two reached the room in Jerusalem where the disciples and others were, they found they also knew He was alive, for they said to them at once, “The Lord is risen indeed!”
ML 03/03/1946