furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre: and when they found not his body, they came, saying, That they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said; but him they saw not. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory! And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. When these two disciples quitted the assembly of their fellow-disciples to go to Emmaus, the only intelligence which could have been received was the original statement of Mary Magdalene to Peter and John, that the body had been removed; that of some of her companions, that they had seen a vision of angels at the sepulchre, and the confirmation of Mary Magdalene's statement by Peter and John on their return from visiting the sepulchre in consequence of Mary Magdalene's report. After those disciples had set out for Emmaus, Mary Magdalene may be supposed to have arrived from her second visit to the sepulchre, where she had probably been left by Peter and John when she accompanied them back thither; and to have reported that appearance of the Lord to her which took precedence of all. Some of the women, to whose party she originally belonged, soon after were favoured with a similar revelation; Peter may have been the next to see the Lord, on his going with John a second time to the sepulchre, in consequence of Mary Magdalene's second report. At all events, Peter's revelation must have occurred before the return of these two disciples from Emmaus; for, on their return, they were greeted with the intelligence, that the Lord had 'risen indeed, and had appeared unto Simon.' If it be asked, how the disciples came to be in M assembly at the early hour when the first reports are said to have been brought to them, their recent affliction and their fears for their own safety may alone account for it. But it may be that, remembering our Lord's prediction, that he would rise from the dead on the third day, they came together on the first dawn of that day to see whether the prediction would have any fulfilment, and what that fulfilment would be. Two of them, however, as appears from this portion of the narrative, left the assembly, on some errand to Emmaus, having given up, perhaps, all hope of their Master's promise being made good. In their way, they were favoured with a visit from him. Two points in this interview should be noticed. The first is, that Jesus should have walked so long, and have so long conversed with them, and yet have been unknown to them. The second is the inward sensation which they described, by saying that their hearts burned within them;' and which they afterwards thought sufficient to have enabled them, had they attended to it, to discover him. With respect to the first point, if we look back to the account of his appearing to Mary Magdalene, we shall find that she too was as slow to recognize him as these disciples, and did so only on his pronouncing her name. On the present occasion, it is expressly said, that the disciples' 'eyes were holden, that they should not know him.' What this miraculous concealment consisted in, it is neither easy nor needful to determine. Neither is it clear for what pur pose Jesus so disguised himself. Possibly he may have designed to disconnect their sense of his presence from the accidents of his bodily appearance; thus preparing them and us for knowing him when coming to us spiritually, but not less really, than if we heard his voice, and saw and handled his person. 'Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.'* The internal sensation to which the disciples allude, may, in like manner, have been some mode of divine manifestation, effected by an impression on the mind, which might afterwards serve, when repeated and recognized, as a proof that Christ, though unseen, was with them, strengthening them under affliction, suggesting to them or prohibiting them when acting, preaching, or writing, and deciding for them when deliberating. Some internal monition they must have continually needed for these purposes, in their after ministry; and if, when first experienced it was not understood, it would be when repeated again and again. Like Samuel of old, these two disciples did not yet know the Lord when thus speaking to them; but when afterwards their hearts felt that same inward burning repeated, they would naturally cry out, 'Lord, here am I.'+ JESUS APPEARS TO THE ELEVEN. (Fifth appearance.) Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Luke xxiv. 36-49. And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled ? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honey-comb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. |