I cannot resist writing another blog about the trip to Emmaus. It is such a wonderful story which contains a mystery and an important theological lesson for Christians. Let me qualify the following comments as   my own thoughts and opinions. This writing is the result of thinking about the situation and wondering how I would interpret it.

The Mystery: I have always wondered how the two disciples could not have recognized Jesus when he joined them on the 2 hours walk to Emmaus. There are some suggestions that Jesus appeared to them in as a glorified being which presented a totally different view of the man. I couldn’t find any substantiation for this thought or why they did not know who He was.

Initially, I thought that since these two men, one of whom is named as Cleopas, were not among the original twelve disciples that they were probably not in close daily contact with Jesus and hence, may not have seen Him enough to recognize Him.  This theory failed when one commentary suggested that Cleopas was the brother of Joseph, who was Jesus’ earthly father and raised Him from birth. This would make Cleopas Jesus’ uncle and certainly, he would have seen Jesus often enough to know who he was. Since the nature of Jewish families as that time was to be very close in all things.

These men were surely moved by the death of Jesus. The news of His resurrection is uncertain information-so out of the ordinary to their way of thinking. However, the traveling conversation with their unknown companion does put them at ease and gives them much to think about.

My mystery will have to remain until more is revealed in the world to come.

Of more important consequence, is what happened when they invited the traveler to have dinner with them. This is an “Aha!” moment for them which I find miraculous. In the breaking of the bread at dinner, they recognize that this is Jesus, resurrected from the dead and eating dinner with them!

A little background is necessary to arrive at the truly wondrous moment which this is. The Jewish Passover Seder which Jesus and the Apostles had celebrated only four days ago has a very specific set of steps that have to be performed. Among those steps, are two which influenced that future practices of Christianity: the breaking of the bread (at Passover, this is the unleavened bread or matzah) and the blessing of the bread. However, there are three pieces of matzah used in this ceremony-only the middle matzah is broken as the blessing must take place over a whole piece of bread-not a broken one.

So, the disciples would have expected Jesus to perform these steps. What they didn’t expect was that Jesus would break with centuries of tradition and break the bread then bless the broken bread. In addition, He would have left them speechless as He told them that, “This is My body, given for you.” After blessing the wine, He told them that the wine was His blood, shed for them and their sins. He commanded them to continue this practice in remembrance of Him.

The attendees must have been buzzing like crazy as they left the supper and went to the garden where Jesus spent time in mediation. The buzz didn’t stop there. The word of this breaking/blessing spread all around His followers to the point that four days later, the Emmaus disciples recognize it as the sign that He gave them at the Passover Supper. I’m not sure that they were present at the supper, but they knew what it meant. All this with no social media, television, newspaper, or other means of modern communication.

Yes, miraculous! Once they realized that they had been walking and talking with the Lord, they understood why they felt their hearts on fire when He spoke.

 We, too, can feel our hearts on fire as we speak to and listen to Jesus. We recognize Him in the breaking of the bread. God loves you unconditionally! He gives to you unconditionally. We only have to accept it. Happy Easter!

Terri