That Same Day

Now that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus Himself came near and began to walk along with them. But they were prevented from recognising Him. Then He ask d them, "What is this dispute you are having with each other as you are walking?" And they stopped walking and looked discouraged. The one named Cleopas answered Him, "Are You the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that happened there in these days?"

"What things?" He asked them.

So the said to Him, "These things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him. But we were hoping that He was the One who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it's the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, and when they didn't find His body, they came and reported they had seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn't see Him."

He said to them, "How unwise and slow you are to believe in your hearts all that the Prophets had spoken! Didn't the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into His glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

They came near the village where they were going, and He gave them the impression He was going farther. But they urged Him, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and now the day is almost over." So He went in to stay with them.

It was as He was reclining at the table with them that He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognised Him, but He disappeared from their sight. So they said to each other, "Weren't our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?" That very hours they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those with them gathered together, who said, "The Lord has certainly been raised, and has appeared to Simon!" They then began to describe what had happened on the road and how He was made known to them in the breaking of bread. As they were saying these things He Himself stood among them. Luke 24:13-36

It was important to Jesus that these two men understood the Scriptures, especially those pertaining to Jesus' death and resurrection. When they eventually returned to Jerusalem they discovered that Jesus had appeared to Simon Peter, but no one else as yet. Why did Jesus choose these two men? It was obvious that He wanted them to know the whole truth. The testimony of these two would be powerful as they went out to preach the gospel in time to come. Before now we had not heard of Cleopas, and to my knowledge we don't again hear of them. To us they are insignificant, but to Jesus, worth spending a lot of personal all time, so that they would get the correct message.

To us who come after, we can feel very unworthy or insignificant but to Jesus, we are very important and treasured. It is important that we do not downplay our worth to the kingdom of God. He chose us, lets respond in faith and trust Him for the big picture. Amen!