The Quintessential “Aha” Moment

Luke 24:13-35

¹³ That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, ¹⁴ and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. ¹⁶ But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷ And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸ Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” ¹⁹ And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. ²¹ But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. ²² Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, ²³ and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” ²⁵ And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. ²⁸ So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, ²⁹ but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰ When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. ³¹ And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. ³² They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” ³³ And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, ³⁴ saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” ³⁵ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

I looked at this famous painting by Robert Zund every day of my life for about 15 years. It hung on the wall in the living room of our home while I was growing up. Little did I know when I was a little kid that this painting depicts one of the most important conversations Jesus had with His disciples. I still love this painting.

Robert Zund (1877)

The theological impact of this section of Luke is enormous and it is not the intention of this blog to be as extensive as this passage deserves. Entire books have been written on these verses and they are worthy of meditation and study. For today, let me just point out a couple of things.

This painting helps put us into the scene. It is Resurrection Day. The tomb of Jesus had been found empty by the women only hours earlier. Two of Jesus Disciples (one of which was probably Peter although we cannot be certain of that as the text is ambiguous about that) are walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They are joined by a “stranger” who joins their conversation about the life altering weekend these men have had. They do not recognize that they have been joined by the very person they are discussing! God has kept their eyes closed as to the identity of their new friend. The bottom line to this happenstance is that people are spiritually blind unless Jesus grants spiritual sight. It served His purposes that they not recognize Him immediately. One can only imagine their excitement and emotional upheaval had they recognized Him. But He had some major educating to do and had they known it was Jesus they were talking with, He could not have had their mental attention on learning what He wanted them to know.

As the three strolled along, Jesus takes the time to explain in depth the connection that the Man they had seen crucified was indeed the Messiah and that He was tied directly to all of the Old Testament prophecies. Verse 27 holds the key to the entire passage. It would have been a mental firestorm eclipsed only by the one that would come their way on Pentecost only 50 days later.

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

It is in the act of blessing the food that the disciples suddenly realize they are in the presence of Jesus Himself. And in the moment, Jesus disappears! Mind blown.

This is an all important moment in the lives of these two disciples and also in our own. Jesus comes into the moment and proves that He is indeed all that was promised in the Old Testament. He is the One promised to Eve in the Garden after the fall. He is the One spoken of by God to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the One that David wrote about and was promised by God would follow to his own throne. He is the One spoken of by prophet after prophet to the people to assure them that God had all of their problems well in hand. He is the One - the Promised Messiah; our Savior.