Luke 24:1-27
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them.5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.[e]
The Walk to Emmaus
13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place.22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” 25 Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures
What does the Passage say?
V. 1-12 ‘On the first day of the week,’ which is Sunday, the women come to the tomb with some spice for Jesus. We need to remember that Jesus died close to the sunset of Friday, and Joseph might have to put Jesus in the tomb, hastily. The women waited a day, observing the Sabbath because even Jesus’ death did not allow them to break the covenant of the Sabbath. Then early in the morning, they came to the tomb and found out that Jesus rose.
V. 13-27 Here we see an odd transition. After Peter is wondering what had happened, Luke is the only Gospel that talks about these two disciples walking toward Emmaus. They are, in a way, dismayed and discourage about the events that happened during the week. They also observed the Sabbath and was not allowed to travel back to their hometown, Emmaus. In a way, they were also fleeing from Jerusalem, because they might have foreseen a persecution against anyone who followed Jesus.
Then Jesus appeared to their journey and asked them what was wrong. They reply by saying, ‘have you not heard what happened?’ and Jesus responses to them by saying, ‘Do you not remember what the word says?’
What does the Passage say to me/us?
There is a term in theology; ‘Anamnesis.’ The word itself has a meaning of ‘reminiscing’, and we believe that it is an active way of God intervening in our sacraments and being present in our lives.
In the same way, Luke 24 is a line of events of Jesus intervening in the lives of the disciples to remind them of who he is.
He first appears to the women, and we see the angel saying, “‘Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’ Then they remembered his word,” (v. 6-8 NRSV).
Jesus appearing on the road to Emmaus was his way of reminding the two disciples about the promise that was given.
We are like the disciples. We forget about the power of the resurrection. We forget about the hope that comes only through Jesus Christ. We are often discouraged, like the disciples after his death, and need a moment of ‘Anamnesis’ in our daily lives. So we pray that you will see Christ, that reminds you of the hope he brings, and also pray that you will be an embodiment of Christ, who reminds others of that hope.
Prayer
Lord, remind of your grace. Help us to be the embodied Christ in this world. May your grace be renewed everyday in our lives.
In Christ Name, Amen.
Click to subscribe to our Daily Devotion.
You will receive a devotion in your inbox every morning.