25 Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, how slow are your hearts to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.

28 As they approached the village where they were headed, He seemed to be going farther. 29 But they pleaded with Him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.”

So He went in to stay with them. 30 While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus—and He disappeared from their sight.

32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem.

There they found the Eleven and those with them, gathered together 34 and saying, “The Lord has indeed risen and has appeared to Simon!”

35 Then the two told what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Vinh Dang

Yesterday we met these two disciples who were walking to the village of Emmaus. As they travelled, they were discussing the events of Jesus’ crucifixion with a stranger who started walking with them – without realising that this stranger was the risen Jesus. Today’s passage begins with Jesus rebuking them, because it seems they haven’t understood how the Old Testament was preparing them for the gospel. Jesus says, “O foolish ones, how slow are your hearts to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?” Jesus goes on to explain to them the Scriptures.

As I read this passage, these words from Jesus speak volumes to me. My natural instinct when something doesn’t go my way is to feel disappointed. Jesus offers me hope, purpose and a transformed perspective. Because of this, I am reminded that I have a hope that is beyond my own understanding. Jesus has risen and entered His glory, and that is our future in Christ as well. That shifts my focus from worldly pursuits to the eternal hope found in Jesus.

Jesus is the one who also helps me to understand the meaning of the gospel. I can’t understand it on my own because of my limitations and my hardness of heart. The two disciples were filled with disappointment and confusion, but upon breaking bread with Jesus, their eyes were opened and they recognised him. That is a picture of what happens when we read Scripture and Jesus opens our understanding to the gospel.

Thank you, Father God, that despite our failure to recognise the power and truth of the gospel, you never cease to remind us and show us Your grace and mercy through Your Son Jesus. In your forgiveness and grace, we have a Saviour who died for us, even though we are so undeserving. Thank you that today we are saved by His death on the cross. All praise and glory to You alone. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vinh is a member of our Fairfield Evening congregation.