Passover to Pentecost – Emmaus         Week 3 Day 4

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus. Luke 24: 13 (NIV)

How many times have we read this story and been captivated by the miraculous events. A crucified Jesus appears to two disciples as they leave Jerusalem.  He teaches them the truth about Him, and then disappears as He breaks bread.  This story in Luke has twenty-three verses, that is the most of any single Easter Sunday story.  I added this story to the list of things to write about because it happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  I had it planned out and it was going to be cut and dry.

I have heard several times from different teachers that these men were simple going the wrong direction.  Emmaus is not on the way to Galilee and Jesus was just redirecting them.  That would have worked with the Cloud leading the people during the Exodus and I was happy:D  BUT!

I let my “teacher” nature kick in, then I thought about it as a writer, and suddenly I was not as happy as I had been.  The more I studied the deeper the questions got, and the less I liked MY answers.  Here are most of the questions:

1. Where was Emmaus? (No, one knows. There are several possible sites.)
2. Who was Cleopas? Who was the other disciple, could it have been Barsabbas or Matthias (Acts 1: 23)?  (In Scripture Cleopas is only mentioned once.)
3. Why had they left? Family obligations or were they fearful or disillusioned?
4. Had they been in the Upper Room and the Garden?
5. Were they the only ones who had left the group?
6. Why had only Peter and John gone to the tomb?
7. Have I, in the last three weeks, covered any of the things He explained to them?
8. Could this story be covered in any of the typology of the first or second Passover?
9. Was He “going on” because He had others to reach?
10. Who were the “others” when they got to the Eleven?
11. Why did they finally recognize Him as He broke bread?
12. Why did the Holy Spirit include this story in the Gospels?

I will try #11 and give an attempt at #12.  After several miles of walking and all the teaching they had gotten, they finally “got” they meaning of the manna or “Bread of Heaven.”  My hope is the Holy Spirit knew Theophilus (1:3) needed the encouragement that Jesus could work with doubt!

http://www.freebibleimages.org