Luke 24:13-35
Dear RTB’ers,
Jesus’ Resurrection, continued… Today, Jesus meeting two disciples on the road to Emmaus. This incident is possibly my all-time favorite Bible story. When I read it, I live it! I’m in it, I’m one of the disciples. A few verses jump out at me every time:
First, when Jesus asks them about their conversation, …one of them, named Cleopas, answered Him, “Are You the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” (v.18) Essentially Cleopas is reflecting the fact that Jerusalem has just gone through its annual Passover feast, with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims joining the large population of nearby residents, and the news of Jesus’ Crucifixion and Resurrection has overwhelmed the city. There is no way the Jewish leaders could keep this quiet, even though they tried. (See Matthew 28:11-15)
Second, the disciples related what they knew, then Jesus took the lead: And then He said to them, “You foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to come into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets, He explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures. (vv. 25-27) As I put myself into that story, I am listening with all my heart! I’ve never heard the Old Testament explained so powerfully! Don’t you wish we had a recording…?!
Third, to me, the most powerful, … He took the bread and blessed it, and He broke it and began giving it to them. And then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him… (vv. 30b-31a) And … He was recognized by them at the breaking of the bread. (v. 35b) Every week in our liturgical tradition we have the opportunity over and over again to recognize Jesus in our priests breaking the bread and sharing it among us. How powerful that is, especially hearkening back to the Emmaus verses I just noted.
Now, finally however, we begin to see faith and hope from the “eleven and those who were with them” (v. 33b). The two Emmaus disciples happily recount their story of meeting Jesus, then the “eleven” counter with their own story of Jesus appearing to Peter. Sounds like the first “Glory Sightings Sunday” in history! GLORY!!!
Blessings!