“Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest Thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him” (John 1:38-3938Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. (John 1:38‑39)).
Disappointed, Discouraged Disciples
Two of the disciples leave Jerusalem to walk about seven miles to their home in Emmaus. Along the way they discuss the momentous events that had occurred in Jerusalem over the past few days. The whole city was in turmoil. All the people seemed to turn against one man, and the outcome for him was not what they had hoped or expected. As a result, they are disappointed, and they are discouraged.
“It came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him” (Luke 24:15-1615And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. (Luke 24:15‑16)). They continue their discussion, but they soon conclude, from the questions that He is asking them, that this new person who has just joined them must be “a stranger in Jerusalem” (vs. 18) and unfamiliar with the recent commotion there.
Well might we probe our own consciences by His question: “What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?” (vs. 17). As we walk—as we travel along our path through life—are we sad? Do we interpret events around us—whether they be in our family, the assembly or the world—from the perspective of man’s intelligence and reasoning or from the light and wisdom of the Word of God? We are sure to become discouraged and downcast if we allow the thinking of this world to influence and form the state of our hearts.
He asks them what things are giving them such an agitated and animated discussion. They tell Him that they concern one “Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people” (vs. 19). They complain against their religious and political leaders who condemned Him and then crucified Him. They repeat the testimony of certain women of the group with whom they had been meeting, who claimed that He is alive, risen from among the dead. And they confirm that others of their group, having gone to His grave, report that it is indeed empty.
Power and Glory Without Repentance?
But the crux of their disappointment they express to Him in these words: “We trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel” (vs. 21). They are looking for a king to appear in power to release them from the oppression of the Roman Empire, to which they are currently subject, and establish them in a glorious kingdom at the head of all the nations. They would overlook the sin and rebellion of Israel against God, the reason for their present condition of servitude to other nations, and ignore repentance, an essential precursor to the blessings of the kingdom.
Their companion takes this up with them. “Then He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?” (vss. 25-26). Peter speaks about “the sufferings which belonged to Christ, and the glories after these” (1 Peter 1:11Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, (1 Peter 1:1)1 JnD). Later on he says that he was a “witness of the sufferings of the Christ, who also am partaker of the glory about to be revealed” (1 Peter 5:1 JnD). The pattern in the Scriptures is always suffering and then glory. Our blessed Lord was perfect in His going down to the lowest depths, “even the death of the cross,” before being exalted to the highest place (Phil. 2:5-115Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5‑11)).
The Living Word Teaches
“Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:2727And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27)). What a wonderful teaching meeting that must have been! The living Word of God interprets the written Word of God to their eager, listening hearts. And we learn a vitally important truth too: All the Scriptures, including the books of Moses and all the prophets, speak “concerning Himself.” The one grand theme of the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is God’s beloved Son. “Christ is everything, and in all” (Col. 3:11If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)1 JnD).
Restoration
Is restoration taking place in the souls of these two discouraged travelers? We might not be able to see much evidence of it at first, but it is happening nonetheless. Just like the activity of the Spirit of God for salvation (John 3:88The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)), so the Spirit’s work in a soul to restore it to the joy of salvation (Psa. 51:1212Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. (Psalm 51:12)) is often hidden but no less real. The Spirit of God ministers the person and work of Christ through the Word of God—remember that “every scripture is divinely inspired, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:1616All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16) JND)—to lead a soul through repentance of its wayward course back into communion with Himself once again.
These two walking to Emmaus later share with one another, “Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:3232And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? (Luke 24:32)). They have become absorbed with the One who deigned to walk those miles with them. Where once they had been discouraged and walking away from Jerusalem, now their hearts are on fire and they can’t have enough of Himself.
Personal Fellowship With Him
When they approach their village, “He made as though He would have gone further” (vs. 28). He does not force Himself on anyone; He longs for our hearts to display their response of love to His and to express our desire for His presence. “They constrained Him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to tarry [or, abide] with them” (vs. 29). Restored, uplifted and encouraged once again, their hearts are now in a suitable state to realize and enjoy His presence. He responds to their invitation and turns in to abide with them, for He loves to be constrained in this way.
Undoubtedly they are hungry after such a long walk. They sit down to supper together, and during the meal their guest assumes the place of host. He takes a loaf of bread, blesses it, breaks it and gives it to them. Then “their eyes were opened, and they knew Him” (vs. 31). Only then do they learn who this glorious person is who has been walking and talking with them. While this is an ordinary supper that they eat in their home, it reminds us of the Lord’s supper, that memorial of His death and finished work on the cross. The person and the work of our Lord Jesus Christ are inseparable, and God would have us never to lose sight of or diminish the value of either the one or the other.
Collective Fellowship With Him
At this point the Lord Jesus leaves these two. Why would He do that? Because they don’t belong all by themselves in their house seven miles from Jerusalem. Their hearts are burning and they have immensely enjoyed His presence, but they need to be gathering with others of “like precious faith” (2 Peter 1:11Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: (2 Peter 1:1)) around Himself for collective fellowship. So complete is the work of restoration that He has accomplished in their hearts that He knows they will not remain where they are. “They rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them” (vs. 33).
There they enjoyed His presence in their midst. “Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them.” There, too, they were privileged to hear the Lord Jesus’ resurrection message, proving that He had accomplished redemption to God’s satisfaction and glory: “Peace be unto you” (vs. 36).
D. R. Macy