13 That same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 And as they talked and deliberated, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”

They stood still, with sadness on their faces. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked Him, “Are You the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in recent days?”

19 “What things?” He asked.

“The events involving Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “This man was a prophet, powerful in speech and action before God and all the people. 20 Our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to the sentence of death, and they crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping He was the One who would redeem Israel. And besides all this, it is the third day since these things took place.

22 Furthermore, some of our women astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 but they did not find His body. They came and told us they had seen a vision of angels, who said that Jesus was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had described. But Him they did not see.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Charis Ould

It’s so easy for me to read this passage and think that I would immediately recognise Jesus. He’s the very person that these disciples are talking about as they walk on the road, and yet they can’t see who he is! But verse 16 tell us why: “Their eyes were kept from recognising him.”

During his ministry, Jesus had shared multiple times with the apostles that he would die and rise again, and yet even after they know his tomb is empty, they are still confused about what has happened to him. In verse 12, Peter went away from the empty tomb wondering what had happened!

We don’t know much about the two disciples in today’s passage—only Cleopas is named—but like the twelve apostles, they have been told what has happened to Jesus but don’t understand. They’ve heard the testimony from the women at the tomb, that it was empty and the angels told them that Jesus had risen, and yet they are still confused!

We will have to wait until the next part of the passage to see how Jesus responds to them, but he is clearly planning to reveal himself to them in his own timing. Jesus knows they have no reason to be sad! But first, he asks them what things had been happening. He is encouraging them to reveal their hearts and what they know about Him. They speak about their hope that Jesus was the One who would redeem Israel.

These disciples had heard the testimony of Peter about the linen cloths in the grave, and the report from the women, and Jesus wanted them to tell him what they had heard. They don’t yet understand or believe, but soon they will. Jesus will open their eyes to see that their hopes have been realised – Jesus has redeemed his people by dying and rising again. What a great reminder that we can believe based on the reliable eyewitness testimony we read in the Bible, and that Jesus still opens people’s eyes when we share that testimony with them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Charis is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.