(Luke 24:13-35)
And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief | priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. |
Have you ever thought it might be interesting to be a fly on the wall, listening to what people really say about you when you're not there? I'm not that brave. But Jesus walked right into it.
What He heard told Him that these two people really didn't have a clue. And they should have. "Them" in "Two of them" refers back to the previous passage, which mentions Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and Peter. So, these people on the road were two of Jesus' wider group of disciples and followers.
Yet, unknowingly addressing Christ Himself, they identify Him as "a prophet." They go on to say (Complete Jewish Bible version)
"And we had hoped that he would be the one to liberate Isra’el!"
Put another way, "Wow, were we wrong, and what a disappointment!"
Jesus' reaction is swift (verses 25-27):
And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
Placing "the prophets" and "the Christ" side-by-side exposes the audacity of their underestimation of Him.
You may wonder why I'm posting this in the "blog" section, since this is normally more of a personal blog. (OK, you hadn't actually wondered that, but I'll tell you.)
I'm posting it here because the Lord took me to this passage one day last week to see His glory. To remind me of how vastly far above my tininess and misunderstanding He is. To encourage me that He has the whole picture of history in His hands.
He took me here to say, "Your thinking about Me is too small!" Yes, with my 20-20 hindsight I may marvel at the ignorance of the people Jesus met on the road, but sometimes I'm just like them.
He has every right to address me the same way He addressed these two people, to call me a foolish woman and slow of heart to believe. Yet what He most often says is, "Come to Me. Cling to Me. I will show You how tender of heart I am, and how mightily I will defend you. ...Ask Me anything."
OK, sweet One. Then I have one request. Do for me what you did for these two people. Open Scripture to me, and show me Yourself on its pages. To begin to know You is to begin to live.