The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus

Scripture Reading

Luke 24:13–35 NKJV

Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.” Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

Luke is the only one who tells us of Jesus appearance to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. We learn that one of them was named Cleopas and aren’t told the name of the other one. There’s a theory that the other disciples was actually Cleopas’ wife. Which is an interest possibility, though there’s no way of proving it. Anyway, these two disciples weren’t important people. They were not part of the twelve, just a couple of followers of Jesus, and not more believing than the others, either. So why tell us this little story? Because here Jesus uniquely appears without revealing his identity, so he can build a little faith into their lives by the word of God before that faith is confirmed with sight. Remember that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” So sight eliminates the need for faith.

Luke tells us that Emmaus was 60 Stadia, or about seven miles, from Jerusalem. So a several hour walk, but not too difficult.

And as we walk with them, we have the same chance, to believe along with them, since we haven’t seen Jesus in person, either. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. First we should ask a simpler question.

I. Why couldn’t they recognize him?

It is certainly possible that the restraint was supernatural, that Jesus supernaturally prevented them from recognizing him. However, that isn’t the only explanation. This isn’t the only time someone saw the Risen Lord and didn’t recognize him. Mary did the same thing. She was the first person to the tomb, earlier than the rest of the women (John 20:12-16). Later, when the disciples went fishing, they also didn’t recognize Jesus (John 21:3-4), until he directed them to catch a miraculous catch of fish, then they realized who it was.

Have you ever seen a kid after not having seen them for several years? It’s long enough that they’ve grown, so they look quite a bit different, but it’s still recognizably them. I think this was similar. Jesus could still be recognized as Jesus, since on other occasions people did recognize him, but he didn’t quite look the same, so it sometimes took a minute for them to realize who they were talking to.

They are also clearly not expecting Jesus, so they aren’t looking out for him. That makes it all the more likely that they just didn’t register that it was Jesus. But Jesus certainly wanted to keep his identity a secret, because he used it to help them in a unique way.

You see, Jesus’ resurrection was different than any other. He was raised with a glorified, immortal body; the first human in history to have one. It was indeed his body, so he still resembled the old Jesus, but it was a bit different. This new body operated with some new rules - he could appear and disappear at will, he could pass through solid walls if he wanted - but he was certainly physical. Most of the time, those who knew him recognized him anyway, but this time, the two disciples didn’t.

II. What things happened?

Jesus is obviously intending to keep his identity a secret, so he asks them what they are sad about. It is interesting that they assume that everyone in Jerusalem must know what happened, and they assume that this would make their sadness obvious. Well the whole city turned out to greet Jesus at the Triumphal Entry, and Jesus was daily causing a stir in the temple, where everyone would be gathering for celebration anyway. So their assumption that everyone must know about Jesus’ death is warranted. It is a little humorous, as I think Jesus might have some idea about his own death. But he gets them talking about it, instead.

Notice that Jesus is here performing the role of a good Biblical counselor. He knows the problem has to be unbelief, which is sin. But he doesn’t come down on their head like a load of bricks. Sometimes people need the rough treatment, and Jesus certainly sometimes was rough when the situation demanded it. for example, read his rebuke of the Pharisees in Matthew 23. But here, that’s not the best way to fix the situation. Here, gently allowing them to talk it out, so they can sort out things out for themselves is the better approach.

Remember that Jesus doesn’t need to listen to them to get all the facts. If he wanted to, he could discern everything he needs to know and get right to the problem immediately. You and I can’t do that, so we’d better listen well first so we can properly identify the problem; but that’s not the only reason to listen well. Jesus cannot be listening well just to learn their situation; he must be listening for their benefit.

However, he doesn’t just let them talk it out forever. Eventually he tells them that their problem is unbelief, and instructs them in the Scriptures. Good Biblical counseling is patient and listens to people and their feelings; but good Biblical counseling is more than just a soundboard; a good counselor must at some point tell them to follow the Word of God.

III. Slow of Heart to Believe

Now their account of the events of passion week and the evidence for the resurrection is revealing. They had quite a lot of evidence that they were missing.

First, they identify him as a “prophet mighty in deed and word.” That’s what they think he is now; that’s not what they believed him to be. Rather, they did believe that he was the Messiah, but now that he is dead, they think they must have been wrong.

It’s obvious why a prophet would be mighty in word. A prophet is someone who speaks for God, so they have to be mighty in Word, since the words they speak aren’t their own words but Gods. But what’s this about “mighty in deed?” Some of the prophets did perform miracles. It wasn’t essential to a prophet, but Elijah and Elisha, for instance, did quite a few of them. The prophets had the same purpose for their miracles as Jesus, to authenticate that what they say is truly from God.

Now you can see how their previous unbelief about not listening to Jesus’ own predictions has brought them further confusion. They aren’t prepared for Jesus’ death precisely because they don’t believe the Word of God; and because they aren’t prepared, they start to doubt other things they used to believe. But they haven’t lost their salvation, even though they have stopped believing that Jesus is the Messiah; rather, they are just confused. If you have a wrong belief about God, when that wrong belief proves false it can destablize you. Unbelief on one point can breed more confusion and doubt.

They have missed no less than four pieces of evidence that pointed to Jesus’ resurrection. The first is that they causally mention that it is the third day since that happened. You and I know what that means - Jesus rose again the third day, and he did tell his disciples that he would do that, so they ought to have been looking for him. It’s the third day, Hallelujah! But instead, because they are slow to believe, they think that’s evidence that Jesus failed.

Second, they heard the report of the women, but did not believe it. The women faithfully and accurately relayed what the angels said; and furthermore, we have every reason to believe that they were reliable and truthful witnesses. But it doesn’t move them, because it just sounds too incredible to be true. They ignore the evidence because they don’t feel like it could be true.

Third, the women report that they saw angels. Isn’t that evidence enough? They saw angels, who only told them what Jesus had already said, explaining the empty tomb nobody could deny. That ought to have been compelling; but this whole situation doesn’t fit their worldview, so they dismiss it as a fairy tale.

Fourth, Peter and John went to the tomb and found it just like the women said, so if they didn’t believe the women surely they would believe Peter and John? But no. They didn’t see Jesus himself, so they won’t believe. They have all the evidence they need to believe, but they still won’t. That’s what it means to be slow of heart to believe. The truth is ought there, with plenty of evidence, but they still won’t accept it. They need to adjust their worldview, but they will not do that.

IV. All that the Prophets Spoke

Now Jesus could have revealed his identity, and that surely would have convinced them, but he doesn’t, because their problem is that they haven’t believed the Word of God they already know. So Jesus tells them that they can’t understand what’s going on because they don’t believe. But what, exactly, did the prophets say about this?

Genesis 3:15 NKJV

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Genesis 12:3 NKJV

I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Psalm 16:10 NKJV

For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

Isaiah 53:3–12 NKJV

He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

V. Their Eyes were Opened

It is interesting that they only found out that it was Jesus after being hospitable. It was evening, and Jesus is going to just keep walking; but Cleopas and co., insist, being hospitable. They are simply looking out for a stranger; they have no idea it’s Jesus. Hospitality is a Christian virtue (Heb 13:2). But here they do one better than an angel. It’s Jesus himself that they end up entertaining!

Hebrews 13:2 NKJV

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

Now perhaps its something about how Jesus blessed and broke the bread, but finally they recognize him. Their faith has become sight! But at that moment, Jesus vanishes. As I said, his resurrection body operates a bit differently.

Faith is a choice to believe compelling truth

Unbelief or wrong belief about God breeds doubt the longer it is held.

There is physical, eyewitness, supernatural, and prophetic evidence that He is Risen

Jesus’ Resurrection body operates according to different rules (as will ours!)

Friendship and care for strangers is a Christian virtue