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. 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. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 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?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Luke 24:13 – 27

Why Jesus appeared to these two disappointed people is a question I ponder as I read this most wonderful story.  These are not two of the Eleven.  They are not in any way leaders of the Jews.  One is named Cleopas.  The other is not even named. In a way they stand for the unrecognized people of all times whose hopes, once real, are now empty longings.  And why should have the Risen Jesus appeared to them?  Is it because Jesus is tender-hearted to those whose dreams are not coming true?  Perhaps.

Is it because they are ready to see their hopes fulfilled in Jesus Christ?  I believe so. They were eager to believe and obviously did so.  Certainly their hopes were genuine and well grounded.  But Jesus is dead!  That they were sure of. But the word was spreading that two of the women had seen him alive!

Or, is it because there is something in Jesus’ conversation that has meaning for all mankind?  I believe so. I say this because they were hoping for something far less than God had planned.  They had hoped that Jesus would now, finally, redeem the nation Israel in some way, wresting it away from the powerful grasp of the Roman Empire. That is behind their lament, “We had hoped that he was the one that would redeem Israel.”  They had thought Christ could do that.  Now, what?  During the day they heard that two women claim he came to them, alive!  Their hopes were stirred, hopes that Israel would once again be a sovereign nation.

These two persons were ripe to believe.  When Jesus revealed himself as he broke the bread in their home they believed!  As they rushed to Jerusalem as the night set in they were thrilled by Jesus’ appearing to them.  One thing I have seen is that when people are converted, they are excited with faith that is ready to believe.

I believe Jesus stressed two things.  First, who he was as he reviewed the Scriptures and secondly, the fact that he had greater plans than the restoration of Israel to be free nation.  The Resurrected Christ opens the door to salvation to all mankind, Israel included, but what he came to establish is a new kind of kingdom that has no national, tribal or cultural borders but includes all who make Christ their King.

Our two friends found themselves in the flow of a new stream on the earth, the river of salvation whose source is the riven side of Jesus, now flowing into ever more channels on the earth, bringing salvation and new life to all who believe.  That is the message of Easter!