The Men from Emmaus

They asked each other,

“Were not our hears burning within us

while He talked with us on the road

and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Luke 24:32

I have always loved this post-resurrection story as told in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 24:13-35).  It warms my heart in several different ways: 

1) Jesus appeared to the everyday man – not to the disciples or those who would eventually lead the fledgling church.  Cleopas and his unnamed friend were believers like you and me.

2) Jesus spent quality time with these two men, teaching them the Old Testament prophecies that spoke of the Messiah and His sacrifice. It was just as important to Him that they understand His mission as it was for the multitudes to understand.

3) He hid His identity from them, but not His heart.  To the men of Emmaus, He was a wise, fascinating stranger.  To Jesus, these were His children.

4) When their eyes were “opened” and they recognized their Master, there was nothing on earth that would keep Cleopas and his buddy from returning to Jerusalem at once!  They had just completed that 7-mile journey and it was now evening, but they gladly hit the road again, determined to share their joy with the disciples.