Knowing The Word in Luke 24:28-35

Meal at Emmaus

24:28 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.

Comments

Having been quite impressed with his teaching, the disciples encourage the yet to be revealed Jesus to stay the evening with them. He accepted their gracious invitation to what was likely one of their homes.

The blessing and breaking of bread were normally what a host would do, not Jesus, which likely caught the disciples by surprise. This was not the first post-resurrection communion service. Remember, these two were not present at the Last Supper, as they were not part of the twelve. Somehow God helped them recognize Jesus. They immediately reacted and dashed back to Jerusalem to report to the eleven.

Application

What do you think God did for the two disciples to be able to recognize Jesus? And why did those who saw Jesus on that first day of resurrection have trouble recognizing him? One explanation may be that before he revealed himself to them, Jesus wanted to give them hope from the scriptures that God had planned Jesus’ resurrection all along, and that in Jesus God had fulfilled his promises to Israel.

Prayer

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer, p. 223