Luke 24:13-35

Let us first note some interesting details in today’s reading.  The 2 men were disciples but not of the Twelve.  One of them was named Cleopas; the other is unnamed.  They were traveling to their homes in Emmaus, a town about 7 miles from Jerusalem.  As is often the case, in Israel today there is more than one possible site of Emmaus, though the traditional one is just off the Tel Aviv/Jerusalem road (Hwy. 1) where a 12^th-century church was unearthed.  

By the time Jesus met these men He had appeared to Peter.  They did not recognize Him because their “eyes were restrained.”  Whether it was their unbelief or an act of God we do not know.  What a great thought, however, that their eyes were opened as they had fellowship with Him at the table.  Perhaps the way He spoke to His Father was eye-opening to these followers.

We also understand that the resurrected Jesus apparently looked like He did before the cross.  We see that the resurrection of Jesus was a bodily resurrection as He enjoyed a meal with them.  And yet it was that kind of body that allowed Him to come and go as a spirit (more on this important issue on another day).

But note what Jesus considers interesting in this story.  Or perhaps the word is not “interesting” but alarming or concerning.  His issue is that they have not believed the Scriptures.  This was raised by the angels at the tomb.  “Did not Jesus tell you that He would be raised from the dead?  Why do you look for the living among the dead?”  Perhaps we gave Mary Magdalene and the other women a bit of a pass because, we might say, “we would have been the same.”

But if we would have been the same, then we must stand under the chastening of Christ in today’s passage.  Look again at how much these men knew (v19-24).  They reviewed the facts with Jesus, including the fact it was the “third day since these things happened”, the fact that the women found a tomb without a body but with angelic beings, and the fact that the women’s testimony had been corroborated by Peter and John.  To this Jesus sharply replies: O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!  There is no mercy, no thought that they should be excused for this.  

We are sinners who are incapable of doing the right thing in our own strength.  We cannot do the things we know we should do because we are weak.  But the one thing we must do is trust God and His word.  If we continue to make excuse about this we will never be saved for it is the gospel that is the power of God to salvation (Rom. 1:16).  We will never live to please God (Col. 1:9-14).  We will never be sanctified (John 17:17).  All this and more is dependent on hearing God and trusting what He has said.  There is no valid excuse in saying, “Well, this is something new, something I have not heard before or thought about.”  That is not an excuse; it is a rationale for unbelief and disobedience.

Lord, today may I make haste and not delay to keep your commandments

(Psalm 119:60).