Resurrection Life of Jesus Church
THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
PART 90: THE ROAD TO EMMAUS
RLJ-1993
JOHN S. TORELL
DECEMBER 15, 2024
PETER MEETS JESUS
In rather strange fashion, Mark’s gospel account (Peter’s point of view) seems self- deprecating in that he fails to mention meeting the risen Jesus. The Scriptures aren’t clear as to when this one-to-one meeting took place.
1. Luke states that Cleopas and another man met Jesus on the road to Emmaus, they conversed with the risen God-man, completely unaware of His identity until He revealed Himself, and they returned to Jerusalem with the news of the resurrection, only to discover that Jesus had already appeared to Peter. Luke 24:34
2. Paul also references Jesus’ meeting with Peter. 1 Corinthians 15:5
ROAD TO EMMAUS
Mark briefly mentions the account Cleopas and his friend on the road to Emmaus, their subsequent return to Jerusalem with the good news, and the failure of Jesus’ followers to believe them. Mark 16:12-13
Luke details the events of Cleopas and his friend on the road to Emmaus, a village 60 furglongs (13,200 yards or 7.5 miles) from Jerusalem. We do not know of this duo were from Emmaus and had homes there, or if they were visiting friends or relatives.
The two disciples of Jesus left Jerusalem on the morning of the third day feeling dejected about what had taken place and now had doubts about Jesus being the Messiah. Luke 24:13
As is common on a journey, they talked to pass the time and discussed the miracles of Jesus, Judas’ betrayal, the Sanhedrin trial, Pontius Pilate, the scourging, the final teaching of Jesus on the Via Dolorosa, the crucifixion between two thieves, the supernatural darkness for three hours in the middle of the day, and the tearing of the veil in the temple. Neither man had any hope that Jesus was going to be resurrected. verse 14
Then Jesus overtook the duo and struck up a conversation with them. They did not recognize the God-man walking and talking with them, most likely because they did not expect to see Him. verses 15-16
Jesus asked why they were talking to each other in such a melancholy manner. verse 17
Cleopas inquired if Jesus was a stranger to Jerusalem since He seemed to be oblivious of the past week’s chaotic events. verse 18
Jesus feigned ignorance in order to draw them out, and sure enough, both men began speaking passionately about Jesus of Nazareth being a prophet anointed by God who did many miracles throughout Israel. verse 19
Their choice of words to describe Jesus as a prophet, which He was, and not as the Messiah, revealed their lack of faith and understanding that Jesus would rise from the dead as He had previously stated on multiple occasions. Matthew 12:40; 16:21; 20:18-19
They recounted how Caiaphas and the rest of the Jewish leadership connived to arrest Jesus, condemned Him to death through a farce of a trial, and moved upon Pontius Pilate to scourge and crucify Him. The Romans were the executioners, but the ungodly Jewish leadership bore the blame. verse 20
They had hoped and believed that Jesus would be the Redeemer promised to Adam thousands of years earlier, but since this morning was the third day after the crucifixion, it would appear that Jesus was not coming back. verse 21
In contrast, they were aware of the God-man’s spectacular resurrection and voiced out their unbelief that such a thing was possible. They recounted how the women had discovered the tomb was empty early in the morning and evidently experienced a vision of angels telling them that Jesus was risen from the dead. verse 22-23
Notice the attitudes of Cleopas and the other man. The women had conversed with the angels, but these two men, and the apostles as well, believed it had all been a vision, the byproduct of an overactive imagination. In the end, they could not have cared less whether the story was true or not because the body of Jesus was missing.
Peter and John ran to the tomb afterwards and found it empty just as the women described. verse 24
Jesus jumped into the conversation and scolded Cleopas and the other man for their unbelief and failure to grasp the words of the prophets. How did they not understand the Messiah must suffer, and die, and rise from the dead? verses 25-26
Starting with the Mosaic law and the prophets, the God-man patiently clarified as they walked together how the writings of Moses and the prophets spoke of the incarnation, birth, teachings, miracles, sufferings, crucifixion, death, and resurrection of the Messiah. The law and the prophets testified to Jesus! verse 27
The God-man did not say He was going farther, but kept on as if it was not His intention to stop. He would certainly have gone further if they had not asked Him to stop and spend the night. The 7.5 mile walk to Emmaus was probably not easy to cover given the terrain surrounding Jerusalem and that is why they did not arrive until the evening. verse 28-29
When they sat at a table and food was put on the table, Jesus took charge as He had done so often in the past, by praying over the meal and then distributing it to Cleopas and the other man. This “Lord and Master” action was familiar and the two men suddenly recognized the God-man, only for Him to supernaturally vanish from their presence. verses 30-31
After listening to Jesus teach while they walked, reinforcing the fulfillment of the Mosaic law and the Messianic prophecies, they finally recognized their resurrected Master breaking bread just as He had done so many times in the past, only to have the God man supernaturally disappear. Is it any wonder they described their hearts as burning within them? verse 32
Even though it was evening, Cleopas and the other man returned to Jerusalem to share the good news with the apostles and the seventy others. verse 33
The duo discovered this group had changed their pessimistic tune from earlier in the day to one of belief because Jesus had also personally appeared to Peter. verse 34
Cleopas and the other man continued their lengthy account of what took place on the way to Emmaus involving the teaching of Jesus and culminated with His disappearance right in front of them. verse 35
With impeccable timing as they were wrapping up their story, Jesus supernaturally appeared in the room and everyone – presumably even Cleopas and the other man – was terrified that He was a ghost, even though He greeted them in a friendly manner. verses 36-37
This was simply not a case of Jesus walking in unnoticed, because the doors were shut for fear of further retribution from the ungodly Jewish leadership. John 20:19
They should have been rejoicing, and Jesus knowing their thoughts, questioned why they were anxious and frightened. Luke 24:38
It was rather odd for this group to behave in this a manner after such an exciting day. Jesus had appeared to Mary Magdalene, Peter, Cleopas and the other man, and now to this roomful of His disciples, and they were terrified of Him. Why? They were not expecting a resurrection and doubted if the God-man standing in the room with them was real.
To dispel their fears, Jesus proceeds to give them evidence that He is the same person that was crucified by showing His hands and feet with wounds from the nails. A ghost or spirit would not have a physical body and offered to let them touch and handle Him. verse 39-40
The disciples thought the news was too good to be true, wondering what to make of the situation. The God-man was not looking to satisfy an appetite, but in order to dispel their doubt, Jesus offered to eat something to prove He was not an apparition. verses 41-43
Then Jesus reiterated a final time the words He had spoken about Himself and what was going to occur in relation to the Old Testament writings concerning the Messiah. verses 44-48
WHAT MATTHEW RECORDED
We do not know why Matthew omitted much of what took place after the resurrection. He stated the women were instructed by an angel to tell the disciples – the eleven remaining apostles, the 70 others, and the other women – that Jesus was risen from the dead. Matthew 28:5-8
Jesus met the women as they were leaving the cemetery reinforced the narrative that He is alive, and death had no power over Him. verse 9
Jesus emphasized that they were supposed to tell the men that the Messiah was risen from the dead and would meet them in Galilee. verse 10
The eleven apostles obediently traveled to a mountain in Galilee designated by Jesus. verse 16
All the disciples worshiped Jesus, nevertheless, some still doubted because they did not expect His resurrection – even though they were told to anticipate it on multiple occasions. verse 17
“For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40)
“From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” (Matthew 16:21)
“Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.” (Matthew 20:18-19)
“But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.” (Matthew 26:32)
Remember, it’s not so important how you begin your life after salvation, but how you finish it!
Do you have an ear to hear with?
