Luke 24:13-35

Applebury's Comments

The Appearance on the Way to Emmaus
Scripture

Luke 24:13-35 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was threescore furlongs from Jerusalem. 14 And they communed with each other of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass, while they communed and questioned together, that Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17 And he said unto them, What communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk? And they stood still, looking sad. 18 And one of them, named Cleopas, answering said unto him, Dost thou alone sojourn in Jerusalem and not know the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we hoped that it was he who should redeem Israel, Yea and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things came to pass. 22 Moreover certain women of our company amazed us, having been early at the tomb; 23 and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them that were with us went to the tomb, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25 And he said unto them, O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself, 28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they were going: and he made as though he would go further. 29 And they constrained him, saying, Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent. And he went in to abide with them. 30 And it came to pass, when he had sat down with them to meat, he took the bread and blessed; and breaking it he gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Was not our heart burning within us, while he spake to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures? 33 And they rose up that very hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35 And they rehearsed the things that happened in the way, and how he was known of them in the breaking of the bread.

Comments

a village named Emmaus.The village was in the vicinity of Jerusalem. It will be forever remembered because of what happened to two of Jesus-' disciples as they journeyed toward it on that resurrection day. As they talked about the death of Jesus and the report of the women that He was alive, Jesus drew near and went with them. They didn-'t recognize Him, for their eyes were holden that they should no know him. Were they blind to His presence because of their knowledge of His death? The Stranger wanted to know about the things they were talking about. The disciples, their grief showing on their faces, said, Are you the only one in Jerusalem who does not know what has come to pass in these days?

Then they told the story of Jesus the Nazarene who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. They told about His crucifixion and said, We had hoped that He would be the one to redeem Israel. Everyone was longing for the restoration of Israel to a place of dignity among the nations of the world. They thought this Son of David would surely be the one to make their dream come true, but that hope died at the cross.

and besides all this.Three days had gone by since the death of the Prophet. The report was out that He had been seen alive. Was the light of hope beginning to show on the faces of these Emmaus disciples? They told the Stranger about those who had investigated and confirmed the report.

foolish men and slow of heart to believe.Jesus chided them for being slow to believe all that the prophets had spoken. He said it was necessary for Christ to suffer and enter into His glory. That was the message of the Scriptures, was it not? Then He explained all that was written in the Scriptures about Himself. What a privilege those disciples had to listen to that message! The book of Matthew covers this very same material showing how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies about Messiah.

abide with us.The disciples couldn-'t let the Stranger go on; they invited Him to stay with them for the night. As they sat at the table, the Stranger took bread and broke it and gave it to them. Their Guest did this; but they had seen Him do it before. Their eyes were opened and they knew that it was the Risen Lord. In that moment of recognition, He vanished from their sight.

was not our heart burning within us.The story of the Scriptures stirred their hearts as nothing else could have done. It is still the most thrilling story known to man. There are millions whose hearts would be thrilled today if only someone would tell them of the Savior who died and arose that they might have eternal life.

that very hour.The two had made the long walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus. The conviction that they had actually seen the Risen Lord banished all thought of being tired. They arose and hurried back to Jerusalem to share the good news with the eleven. There they discovered that the evidence of His resurrection was piling up, for the apostles said, The Lord is risen indeed and has appeared to Simon.

Luke does not record all the appearances of Jesus, Some of them recorded by others are: (1) The appearance to the eleven when Thomas was absent and again when he was with the group (John 20:19-31; 1 Corinthians 15:6). (2) The appearance at the sea of Tiberias (John 21:1-23). (3) The appearance to the five hundred at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6), (4) The appearance in the mountain in Galilee when Jesus gave the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). (5) The appearance to James (1 Corinthians 15:7).

Luke summarized all this evidence in his second letter to Theophilus in these words: to whom he also showed himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing unto them by the space of forty days, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3).