Surprise? The Road to Emmaus
- Kay Moorby
- Apr 28
- 3 min read
Part Two of the Encounters Series.
In our next encounter, we find two disciples walking along the road to Emmaus. Still in shock, they were reeling from the traumatic events of the past few days.
For the last three years, they had faithfully followed and loved the man they thought would redeem their people.
Now, he was gone.
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
(Luke 24:13-14)
Now, that same day…
Which same day?
As we look back to the start of Luke 24, we see the women taking burial spices to Jesus’ tomb. To their surprise, the stone is rolled away, and Jesus is risen. But that news hadn’t reached the ears of two despondent disciples who were struggling to put one foot in front of the other on the road to Emmaus.
As they tried to make sense of everything that had happened, a man appeared and walked with them. There were many encounters after Jesus' resurrection where people did not recognise him, but in this instance, his identity was purposefully hidden from his followers.
Imagine their amazement when he asked what they were talking about.
Was this bloke clueless?
Did he not know what happened in Jerusalem that weekend?
Did he not know what they’d been through?
They didn’t have time for this nonsense, and yet, when Jesus asked, “What things?” they took a moment to respond.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 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. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
(Luke 24:19-24)
With their minds struggling to process what had happened, it all came spilling out. And yet, they were talking to the person at the heart of their story. They couldn’t see what was right in front of them. They had hoped Jesus would redeem Israel but, despite repeatedly telling them exactly how that would play out, they were surprised when it happened.
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 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)
Now, I don’t know who you would want at your dream Bible Study session, but I’m pretty sure Jesus would be at the top of the list. These two disciples were able to listen to Scripture straight from the source. Jesus walked them through every prophecy that pointed to this moment.
None of this was a surprise.
It had been spoken of for centuries.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 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 24:28-32)
The disciples looked back on their long walk to Emmaus.
They recognised a connection with Jesus but it was all after the moment had passed.
What if they had focused on the burning within rather than the darkness that clouded their judgement?
What if they had set aside their feelings and, instead, focused on the truth written in Scripture?
When we face challenging circumstances and things don’t make sense to us, we often centre our focus in the wrong place. It shouldn’t be a surprise that Jesus is walking along with us. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, it’s only when we look back on challenging seasons that we recognise Jesus was there all along.
Instead, let us experience his presence in each and every moment of our lives.
Kay Moorby
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