Luke 24:32-35 32They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he explained to us the Scriptures?” 33And arising at that same hour, they returned to Jerusalem and they found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34saying, “Truly, the Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon!” 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
The next part of the story gives two results of the disciples’ recognition of Jesus. First, they reflected deeply on what had been happening to them over the events of the day. Their hearts were burning as they heard Jesus explain the Scriptures. The word explained (diēnoigen) means to open, explain, or talk about a topic (Acts 17:3). The explanation of the Scriptures stirred within them an anticipation and longing that they could not understand at the moment. Not only was it the intellectual aspect of hearing an explanation but the dialogue with Jesus. It was the journey together, with Jesus at their side, that stirred this growing desire in their hearts. Their disappointment and sadness were transformed into hope and longing for the truth of what Jesus said.
The second outcome was what these two disciples did in response to their recognition of the resurrected Jesus. All that the women had claimed was true. Sometimes our own experience is needed for us to believe even though others testify to the truth. Cleopas and his companion left the place they were staying (which may have been their home) right away and headed back to Jerusalem. By this point it was evening, and so it is possible that a lot of their return journey was in the growing darkness of night. They could not keep this news to themselves for another day. This type of situation required immediate action.
They found the eleven apostles and other followers still gathered together. It was Sunday evening and, likely, night by the time they got back. Luke does not record what was going on in the minds of the group in Jerusalem at this point. Their hearts may have had a growing burning sensation, like the two disciples had on the road to Emmaus. Their questioning thoughts were full of hope and anticipation while struggling to understand how any of this could be true. Now they had additional witnesses to the resurrection, but these witnesses had actually seen Jesus alive. Their testimony added confirmation to Peter’s own experience of seeing the resurrected Jesus. There is no specific description of Peter seeing the resurrected Jesus before this, but 1 Corinthians 15:5 recounts this early church tradition. They also told the group of how they came to recognize Jesus after the breaking of bread. When sincere believers break bread together in anticipating faith, Jesus will be present there with them.
Why did Luke include this unique story towards the end of his Gospel? The focus of much of what he wrote is the identity of Jesus. This story serves as a paradigm for how people come to believe in Jesus. First, they have the testimony of other believers who have experienced Jesus. In their questioning minds, they seek answers and dig deeper into the claims. Second, they can find those answers in the Bible, which records God’s Word of hope to humanity. Third, as they journey on their road to faith, they encounter Jesus through prevenient grace, though they do not fully recognize him yet. Fourth, they come to a place of genuine encounter when their growing enlightenment becomes genuine faith. Finally, they cannot keep this new faith to themselves but must share it with others. They can also have the confirmation of the body of Christ.
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