He said to them (the disciples), “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

 

On the road to Emmaus Jesus appears to two disciples. This is the longest single post-resurrection narrative in the gospels. Just before this encounter, Jesus appears to Mary of Magdala in John. Luke’s account of Jesus’ appearance in the afternoon is unique. Alfred Plummer (Plummer, Commentary, 552) believes that Luke received the narrative from an eyewitness account and that the narrator was Cleopas.

Jesus appears mysteriously to the depressed and disillusioned disciples on the road to Emmaus on the afternoon of His resurrection. This road is approximately 7 miles from Jerusalem. The disciples think that Jesus is a pilgrim who must have witnessed Jesus’ death. During the walk, Jesus feigns ignorance about the events of the past few days. He listens intently to their discussion. The disciples tell him of their shattered hopes and dreams for Jesus, the prophet, who through his great and mighty works and preaching would redeem Israel. The concept of redemption for these disciples and for many other Jews meant that a conquering, all-powerful Messiah would deliver them from oppression and subjugation by foreign powers. Thus, the death of Jesus decimated their ideas of the nation’s expected redemption and restoration. The disciples also believed that the women’s story of Jesus’ resurrection was simply an idle fairy tale, providing followers with false hope in light of his devastating death.

Jesus, still the stranger to the disciples, proceeds to explain through the Scriptures - just the Old Testament at this time - that fulfillment of the expectation of the People of God for the Messiah had been accomplished through His life, death, and resurrection, though not in the manner they anticipated and desired.

Upon arriving at Emmaus the disciples welcome the stranger, who has now become the companion on the journey, to stay and prepare to spend the night with them. Jesus remains and takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and gives it to them. At this moment, as the Scriptures have been explained to them, their hearts burn, they are transformed and they realize their companion is the Risen Lord.

This providential encounter certainly had to be an awe-inspiring and transformative experience for these disciples. Yet, regardless of how any believer arrives at “Emmaus,” their unique trek “from” this place will ultimately inform and dictate their learning, growth, progressive understanding, and embodiment of these great truths that Jesus imparted to the disciples, knowing our conformity to Christ continues even in the new heavens and earth. Sadly, in the modern church, if redemptive history is taught - or mentioned - at all, it is rife with unscriptural agendas and often lacks substance and cohesion.

With this current state in mind, our aim is three-fold:

1. Be a disruptive source of truth in a sea of false, destructive “pleasantly pagan” narratives

2. Letting Scripture speak for itself, showcasimg the splendor, beauty, and unity of its unfolding story of cosmic, not just human, redemption, restoration, and renewal

3. Present these truths in a manner that is approachable, accessible, and digestible to promote the growth and edification of the Body (Ephesians 4:16)

References:
Adaptations and excerpts from the International Bible Commentary pp 1435 – 1437.​