Luke 24:28-31 28And they drew near to the village to which they were going, and he pretended to go far off. 29And they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30And it happened when he was reclining at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and breaking it he gave it to them. 31And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he became invisible to them.
The two disciples were nearing their goal of the village called Emmaus. It had taken two to three hours to walk from Jerusalem. That was plenty of time for the best teacher of all time to explain what the Scripture taught about the Messiah. Even after telling them the story, the disciples failed to recognize him. Jesus acted like he would move on. He gave the disciples the opportunity to practice hospitality, which was a strong cultural practice. It was standard in that culture always to invite someone to eat and stay. Jesus knew that but pretended to go on to give the disciples an opportunity to express their seriousness about the conversation. In some cultures, the first answer to an invitation is typically a rejection of the invitation. A second insistence would show more seriousness. The disciples urged in a strong way for the unknown man to stay. Not only were they being cultural, but perhaps they wanted more teaching. Their hearts were searching for the truth.
The scene shifts from the roadside to the dinner table. The focus becomes less about teaching and more about relationship. Meals were at that time and are still today times of deeper fellowship. It was not typical in that culture for the visitor to take the position of host and break the bread. It was not his table. The head of the family broke bread. Cleopas gave up his position as host to Jesus. Jesus was the host and head of the table. Cleopas must have sensed something about their visitor, especially after his in-depth explanation of the Scripture.
What Jesus did was intentional. The order echoes the eucharist: he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them. What about this action opened their eyes to Jesus’ identity? Was it the words of blessing that he spoke? Was it the memory of the Lord’s last supper, which these two may have participated in? Was it the wounds in his hands as he handed them the bread? Looking at the fresh wounds would have brought immediate recognition. Jesus took the wounds into eternity as the Lamb who looked slain (Revelations 5:6). The wounded Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for our wounds. He intercedes for us through his wounds.
As soon as the disciples recognized Jesus, he disappeared. This was true in all resurrection appearances (John 20:19, 26). Recognition of Jesus as the resurrected Messiah appears to be the whole purpose of this experience. The disciples had a firm foundation in God’s Word. Their minds were illuminated with divine revelation. But their hearts needed the recognition that comes with faith. The truth needs to be recognized and accepted for it to make a difference in our lives.
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