By BRUCE GREEN
RELIGION —
Two disciples who attended the Passover Feast are headed toward Emmaus (about seven miles from Jerusalem). As they travel, their conversation is dominated by events of the last few days — how this year’s Passover was unlike any other they have attended due to the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. Other people have been crucified, but no one like Jesus. They have heard from some who were at the trial that Pilate actually wanted to release Him, but the Jewish leaders and people there were insistent that He be crucified.
The crucifixion itself was a horrific sight. His mother and disciples were present and obviously distraught. Others were jeering and taunting Him. The only person who seemed to be calm was Jesus. Now, to make matters even worse, it’s the third day since this occurred and apparently, something has happened to His body. His tomb has been disturbed and His body is nowhere to be found.
While they are discussing these things, the resurrected Jesus joins them — only they are “kept from recognizing Him” (Luke 24:16). I suppose it’s natural for us to wonder why this concealing is done. Haven’t these two suffered enough? Wouldn’t the sensitive thing to do be to immediately reveal Himself and deliver them from their despondency? While I think you could make a case for that, Christ regards it as a teachable moment — one that would not occur if He revealed Himself immediately to the two. He’s taking the long view of things with them. And by recording this episode years later, Luke is doing the same for Theophilus and others who will read his gospel.
This view interestingly points away from personally encountering the resurrected Christ as the apostles and a substantial amount of other people did (1 Corinthians 15:5-8) and toward the witness of scripture. It’s the same thing that Jesus tells Thomas when He says to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (John 20:29). John segues from this event to explain that he has written his gospel so that people who haven’t seen Jesus might believe in Him and find life (v. 30-31). While we are to appreciate those who bore witness to the risen Christ, they are very much the exception rather than the rule. That’s why a blessing is attached to those who come to faith through the witness of scripture.
Returning to Jesus and the two disciples, it’s important to note that the issue for them is more than the resurrection of Christ. They are stumbling over something else that in many ways is just as fundamental: the suffering of Christ. They understood being the Messiah and suffering to be mutually exclusive. Peter thought the same thing (Matthew 16:21-23). It is this point that Jesus develops as He explains the scriptures to them (Luke 24:26-27).
It is not insignificant that this misunderstanding has them seven miles from where they need to be (in Jerusalem — 24:47, 52). They’re close, in the vicinity, within walking distance — just not where they should be. I can’t help but think that there are many today who are seven miles from Jerusalem. They believe in the Christ and wish to follow, but they don’t want the cross that Jesus brings (Matthew 16:24-25). They embrace the glory of Jesus, but not the suffering that goes with it (Romans 5:2-5, 8:17-18).
I remember about four believers in Nigeria who were killed by Fulani herdsmen. Now the people of this particular village slept outside so they could get away quickly when they heard the herdsmen or members of Boko Haram coming at night to raid their village. Church leaders were discussing with disciples “what if” scenarios (“What if you were threatened with death if you didn’t denounce Christ?” and other similar situations). In light of this, our desire (at times) for God to take away any pain or discomfort the moment it dots our horizon is embarrassing, as well as ill-informed. We never seem to consider that it might be a teachable moment for us or that He might be putting us in that situation to transform us and/or to bear witness to others.
Luke would have us to know that Jesus was with two disciples in Emmaus, but when He opened their eyes, they were no longer satisfied to be seven miles from Jerusalem.
Neither should we.
Green has written a book on the model prayer called “Praying in the Reign.” It is available through 21st Century Christian.
Find more of his writings at his website: www.a-taste-of-grace-with-bruce-green.com.