Lord’s Appearance to His Disciples on the Road to Emmaus.

(Luke 24:13-35 and Mark 16:12).

Evangelist Luke — according to tradition being one of the two disciples — was the only one to describe this event in detail, the other one being Cleopas, a relative of Mother of God. Both were among the Seventy disciples of Christ. There is also a short mention of Christ’s appearance by Saint Mark (16:12). The very extraordinary alacrity of the narrative of this event, and the fullness of the portrayal with all its inner sufferings, shows that one of its two participants was undoubtedly Luke himself, and according to the custom of holy writers, not calling himself by name. The disciples were heading toward Emmaus, a settlement located approximately 7 miles west of Jerusalem. At the slow pace that they were traveling there, it would have required near 3 hours to cover the trip, while on a hurried return trip, it would have taken 1 ½ to 2 hours. This was the “same day,” i.e. the day of Christ’s resurrection. They were walking slowly, discussing among themselves about all the sad events associated with the Lord’s last days on earth that lay heavily on their souls. As can be seen further on, they also discussed events of the current day, which evidently couldn’t affirm their faith in the authenticity of Christ’s resurrection, because they walked in sadness. Along the way, the Lord Himself joined them as a traveler, heading in the same direction. “But their eyes were restrained, so they did not know Him.”

Saint Mark explains that the Lord appeared to them “in another form,” i.e. in a different appearance, that’s why they did not recognize Him. The Lord did this intentionally, because it wasn’t inopportune for Him to be recognized immediately. He did this, so as to instruct them in their spiritual state with essential teachings. As Saint Theophylactus reasons that He wanted them, “to reveal all their perplexities, expose their wound and then accept the medicine; so as to appear before them, after a prolonged intermission, more pleasing; to instruct them from Moses and the Prophets, and then be recognized; so that they may better believe that His Body is no longer that, which can be seen by everyone in general, but that while it is the same body that resurrected and suffered, at the same time, it is visible only to those that He deigns to see Him.”

Being omniscient — He wants to know from them themselves, what is the reason for their sorrow: “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” With this question, the Lord is trying to provoke the disciples into pouring out their feelings before Him. Cleopas then perceives the Lord to be a Judean, having arrived in Jerusalem from some other country for Passover, as one could not visualize that a Palestinian resident, wouldn’t know everything about what transpired during those days. The disciples then professed their sorrow. However, characteristically, they refer to their Teacher as just “prophet,” at the same stating that their expectations of Him as the Messiah, had not been realized: “We were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.” Moreover, they themselves don’t know what to make of everything that transpired, because some women, having been to the tomb, related some amazing things: they didn’t find His Body, but saw the appearance of Angels, who pronounced that He was alive. Evidently, Luke and Cleopas left Jerusalem before hearing about the appearance of the Lord to Mary Magdalene and other myrrhbearers. “Certain of those who were with us went to the tomb” — here, evidently, the conversation is about Apostles Peter and John, about which the latter narrates (John 20:1-10) — “but Him they did not see” — and it is this that places them in a quandary, not knowing what to make of all this.

Without still not revealing Himself, the Lord begins His dialogue, giving them to understand that the reason for their uncertainty of their spiritual state, lies within them — in their incomprehension and in the inertia of their hearts. “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” — His spiritual and not earthly glory.

The disciples listened to their mysterious traveler with an inner heart-felt zeal, and their hearts became so pre-disposed toward Him, that they started to persuade Him to stay with them for the night, citing that night is approaching and to travel alone at night in Palestine, was not without danger. The Lord stayed, and when it was time for supper, as the eldest, “He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.” Evidently this gesture, characteristic of their Teacher, served as an impulsion to open their eyes, and “they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.” As can be seen from the Evangelists’ narratives, the glorified Body of the Lord was already something extraordinary. It wasn’t like the former mortal human body: to it, there were no barriers, and it could appear suddenly and become invisible instantly.

Why is it that only now the Lord allowed Himself to be recognized? The purpose of His appearance was to explain to the disciples, how all the writings of the Old Testament Prophets, had been realized through Him. Had they recognized Him instantly, the impulsive joy that would have undoubtedly overwhelmed them, may have hindered a quiet reflection about the authenticity of His resurrection and conviction in its reality. As the Lord guided them slowly toward a profound conviction in this truth, and by their own admission, compel their hearts to inflame, He finally revealed Himself to them, having thus ignited them with a burning faith, inaccessible to any doubts or temptations.

Notwithstanding that night had fallen, they immediately hurried to Jerusalem so as to share their joy with the other disciples. They in turn related to them that “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” According to Saint Mark (16:12-13), Luke’s and Cleopas’s account was not believed by the other disciples. It has to be assumed that what confused them, were the incomprehensible appearances of the Lord, first here then elsewhere, which was impossible for an ordinary person. Also, that He appeared to the travelers to Emmaus “in another form.” They didn’t understand the Lord’s new being upon resurrection, because their faith was not yet very firm — they didn’t know the nature of His resurrected Body. That’s why when He appears to them collectively, behind closed doors, they regard Him as an apparition.