“Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭13‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Back home…to the old routine…to dashed hopes and broken dreams…to disillusionment, devastating and bitter! Their steps were slow, dragging, reluctant. They longed to stay in Jerusalem, to mourn with their fellow followers…but to home they must go. Life must go on. Much as they wished to reverse time, to go back to those moments when Jesus was still with them… it could not be. 

A stranger followed them, unrecognisable in the gathering darkness. He listened to the conversation…heard the gloom and despair in their voices…and hastened to join them. 

He slowed His pace, kept in step with theirs and, knowing full well what they were discussing, joined the conversation. 

“One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?””

“What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭18-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

All in the past tense! Unbelief in every word! Grief…disappointment…misery in their tone. It’s all over! “We had hoped…!” Nothing left in this huge, promising interim of Jesus among us. Now it’s gone! Our hearts are broken. Our hopes are dashed. Going back home to the old routine is bitter!

Jesus listened to their torrent of disillusionment, His anger rising with every miserable utterance. He could no longer keep quiet…hold back His rebuke…

“He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

These were God’s covenant people. They knew the Scriptures. They were schooled in God’s Word from birth. Yet, they had never made the connection. How could they not see that His story was written on every page of their holy book?

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Finally…the penny dropped. They connected all the dots…and the picture that emerged blew them away. What this stranger was telling them made sense. The one they had watched…dying a humiliating death on a Roman execution stake, was truly their Messiah. 

So enamoured were they with this well-informed stranger that they invited Him home for dinner. Only as they sat around the table, as He lifted His hands in blessing, did the truth hit them like a thunderbolt. The hands… the open wounds…the nails…the cross! It was Jesus Himself at their table!

In a flash, He was gone! He did not tarry to socialise with them… He was still there, but invisible in the realm of the spirit. Enough that they had seen Him. Their faith had been lit, like a candle in the dark. They were now witnesses…with a story that, together with every other believer that He was alive, would shake the world. 

To be continued…