The Road to Emmaus

On the afternoon of the same day two of the disciples were walking out from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus about seven miles along the road.  While they were on their way, a stranger came up alongside them and joined in their conversation.  When they told him about the crucifixion of Jesus and how the women had found the tomb empty, the stranger explained that all this had been foretold in the books of the Old Testament.

On reaching Emmaus the stranger made as if to go further, but the two disciples could not bear to let him go.  “Stay with us,” they said, “because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over” (NRSV, Luke 24:29).  So the three went in together and one of them got some supper ready.  When they sat down to it, the stranger said Grace and took bread, and blessed it, and broke it and gave it to them.  At once they recognised him – it is Jesus – but no sooner did they realise than his place is empty and he is gone (Luke 24:13-31).

I don’t think they ever finished that supper!  They hurried back to Jerusalem and found the eleven and their companions gathered together.  And they were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” (NRSV, Luke 24:34).  Then the two disciples told the others what had happened on the road to Emmaus and how Jesus had been made known to them in the breaking of bread. 

Besides appearing during the day to Mary Magdalene and Peter and these two disciples, we may be sure that Jesus also appeared to Mary, his mother.  We can only imagine the indescribable joy and tenderness of that meeting.

Later the Apostles learnt what had happened to the soldiers at the tomb.  Just before dawn there had been an earthquake, and that in turn had been followed by something which terrified them even more.  In front of their very eyes an angel rolled back the stone and sat on it, watching them.  For a moment they were too afraid to move; then they fled from the garden.

Jesus’ rising from the dead is called his Resurrection, and the day on which it happened is known as Easter Day.

SUMMARY

1. On Holy Saturday the Jewish rulers posted soldiers at the tomb, but during the night they were frightened away by an earthquake, and by an angel who rolled the stone aside.

2. Early on Easter morning the holy women and Peter and John found that the body of Jesus had changed in the night and he was raised to a different level of existence, leaving the linen grave cloths undisturbed, and the tomb empty.  He was set free from the restrictions of the natural world yet had the power to make himself present within it.

3. During the day Jesus appeared in his risen body to Mary Magdalene, Peter and the other two disciples, and, we may be sure, to his mother.