Emmaus

Christ and disciples, on the road to Emmaus stained glass window, New York City Temple

"Abide with me; 'tis eventide.
Thy walk today with me
Has made my heart within me burn,
As I communed with thee.
Thy earnest words have filled my soul
And kept me near thy side."
Abide With Me; 'Tis Eventide, text by M. Lowrie Hofford, hymn 165

The story of two disciples, walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, is found in Luke 24. It was just a few days after the horrible events of the crucifixion, and although they had heard rumors of the miraculous resurrection, they did not understand. As they walked and tried to make sense of it all, they were joined by a third traveler. He, listening to their conversation, asked them to explain the recent events and their sorrow.

After expressing surprise at the stranger's ignorance of these events, the disciples confessed their confusion at the death of Jesus. Was He not the Christ? How could he be killed? How could all the things he taught, about eternal life and the Kingdom of God, happen now?

After expressing his surprise at their ignorance, the stranger began to open the scriptures to them. " 'Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter his glory?' " he asked. "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures..."

When the trio reached Emmaus, and the stranger made as if to go on, the two disciples begged him to stay, for the night was fast approaching. Sitting to eat, the stranger "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?"

I love this story.

I love the near-anonymity of these two disciples--one is named Cleopas (we know very little about him), and the other is sometimes assumed to be Luke. They are not part of the twelve, they are not presented as rich or influential. They are simply two disciples who loved Christ, and were sorrowed and troubled by the crucifixion.

And the risen Lord appeared to them! But instead of appearing as the resurrected Christ, he appears to them as a stranger. Instead of comforting them immediately, he strives to make sure they understand the great plan of redemption, the essential sacrifice required for the Atonement. He does not want to simply sweep in and take away their cares--he wants them to understand why it all happened.

I love the beautiful phrase "Did not our heart burn within us?" As they walked, and listened, and learned, the Holy Spirit testified to them. Before they even knew the stranger was Christ, they knew of the truth of his words.

And I love the end of the story. After walking all day, and at last reaching their destination, the resurrected Savior reveals himself to them. After he vanishes from their sight, "and they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together..." They rushed back to Jerusalem to share the amazing news of Christ's resurrection. They cannot even rest for the night, their excitement to share is too great to wait even that long.

I need to have more of that longing for understanding, more of that earnest reflection on the scriptures, more of that excitement to share the good news of the Atonement with the world, in my life.