When a Walk With Jesus Changed Two Men’s Lives
Did you realize that some of the first people the Bible records Jesus appearing to after His resurrection were two unnamed men who were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus? On Easter Sunday, we always hear about the women and the disciples who came and saw the empty tomb. We hear about His special appearance a short time later to Thomas, who wasn’t with the disciples the first time Jesus appeared to them. But He also appeared to two men who were walking down the road toward Emmaus. …and not only did He appear to them, but He spent a significant amount of time with them!
Luke 24:13-35 tells the story of these two men and their divine walk-and-talk on Resurrection Day. Jesus came up and asked them what they were talking about, and with downcast faces, they told Him about Jesus of Nazareth, who had just been crucified. They even told Him about the women who’d found the empty tomb that morning, but the overall tone of the conversation seemed to remain sad because, to their knowledge, nobody had actually seen Jesus alive. They clearly had lots of head knowledge! They knew what was going on, but it seems as if their eyes weren’t fully opened to Jesus’ identity—even with all of that information stored in their brains.
Then, Jesus 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 24:25-27
Wow! What a Bible study that must have been. Can you imagine strolling along down the road with Jesus and having Him explain the Scriptures to you? But it seems as if this didn’t yet awaken the men to Jesus’ identity. When they were turning toward their destination and Jesus acted as if He was walking further, the men invited Him to stay with them for the night. Maybe they were just being hospitable? Or maybe they were so enjoying Jesus’ Scripture lessons they wanted to create the time and space for Him to continue. It was there, at their home, that their eyes were finally opened to the realization that they’d been walking with and talking to Jesus this whole time.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” -Luke 24:30-32
I love what the men did next. Sure, they may have been slow to realize it was THE RISEN JESUS they were talking to, but once they did, they sprang into action. They got up at once, returned to Jerusalem and told the disciples that they had seen Jesus. If my assumptions are correct, it would have been dark by then. And with everything that had been happening in the prior days, I wonder if venturing out on a seven-mile walk in the dark was a very safe idea? But these men had just confirmed some absolutely mind blowing news. Sleeping on it and passing along the news the next morning was not an option.
Do you react with that much urgency and passion with good news of Jesus’ life-changing resurrection? I can’t say I always do. When I stop and really ponder these men, there’s so much I can learn about God and myself from Genesis Luke 24:13-35.
What can we learn about God from this story?
- God often shows up in the most unexpected places.
- He is never too busy for His people.
- God sees and prioritizes individuals.
- He waits for our invitation to come and make Himself at home in our lives.
- He knows our hearts, and He knows exactly what to do to prick and transform us.
- He is patient to explain and re-explain His Word.
What can we learn about people/ourselves from these two men?
- We can be full of head knowledge but still blind to and unaware of Jesus.
- Once we truly see and accept Jesus for who He is, we must choose what to do with that life-changing news.
- It is good and helpful to talk about confusing things with fellow believers.
- Our hospitality can open unexpected doors.
- Honesty with God, though it might feel intimidating, allows Him to meet us where we are and move us forward with intimacy and purpose.
- We must take time to listen for God’s voice.
- We can invite Jesus to come and stay in our lives.
What else do you learn about God from this story? What do you learn about yourself? How can you apply that to your life today? Pick out the one lesson you’re learning from the men who encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus—you know, that one that’s resonating in your heart right now—and talk to God about it in prayer. Write it down somewhere where you’ll see it, and let that lesson move you forward in faith.