Luke 24:13-35

content/bible_journal/luke_24:13-35.md

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+title = "Luke 24:13–35"
+date = "2023-02-25"
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+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk24.13-35)
+
+At some point during that first Resurrection Sunday, two of the disciples, a
+Cleopas and one other, leave Jerusalem for the village of Emmaus. Jesus follows
+them and overtakes them on the road and overhears them talking about the things
+that had happened to Him over the last few days. He stops them and asks what
+they are talking about, and they can't believe there's anyone who has been in
+Jerusalem (as they presume Jesus has come from) who hasn't heard about the
+death of Jesus. Jesus pretends not to know, so Cleopas tells how He had been
+condemned by the chief priests and rulers to be crucified, how His disciples
+had hoped that He was the promised Messiah who would redeem Israel, and how the
+women told the story of seeing angels at the tomb but no body.
+
+Jesus responds by saying they don't understand the Scriptures very well, or
+they would see that the Messiah would have to suffer before being glorified. He
+then proceeds to explain how that is so from all the Scriptures that had been
+written to that point. This is important, because it shows that God's plan from
+the beginning was for Jesus to die on the cross to atone for the sins of all
+who trust in Him for salvation. It wasn't a Plan B or a mid-flight adjustment
+to try to fix a mistake. God is sovereign and cannot make mistakes because He
+is all powerful and knows all things.
+
+When they get to Emmaus, Jesus appears to be heading past it, but Cleopas and
+his companion ask Him to stay with them because the day is nearly done, and
+they want to share a meal with Him. He agrees, and after He blesses the food
+and starts to hand it to them, their eyes are opened to who He is. And then He
+vanishes. It has been suggested that the reason they recognize Him at that
+moment is because they could see the nail wounds in His wrist as He hands them
+the food. You can imagine the sleeve of His robe pulling up as He stretches His
+hand out.
+
+Why does Jesus suddenly disappear as soon as the disciples are allowed to
+recognize Him? I think it has a lot to do with why He appeared to these two in
+the first place. Certainly, they needed to be told how to read the Scriptures
+more accurately, but I also think Jesus was going around and finding all the
+disciples who were trying to leave Jerusalem and getting them to turn around
+and head back. He eventually tells them to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy
+Spirit to come upon them, which is hard to do when everyone has started going
+in different directions.
+
+These disciples understand the implications of Jesus appearing to them and head
+back to Jerusalem, probably after finishing their meal. They get back to tell
+all of the other disciples what they had seen and heard, only to find out Jesus
+had already appeared to Simon.
+
+* * *
+
+Let us always be quick to share the good news that You are alive today, and
+that this fact has ultimate, eternal significance.