And it came to pass that while they talked and reasoned with themselves, Jesus himself also, drawing near, went with them.
και εγενετο εν τω ομιλειν αυτους και συζητειν και αυτος ο ιησους εγγισας συνεπορευετο αυτοις
8 Church Fathers comment on this verse
They conversed with one another about all these occurrences, not as faithful followers but as bewildered and astonished by the remarkable events, struggling to understand this wondrous phenomenon. Then Jesus appeared and walked alongside them. With a body that was both spiritual and divine, He encountered no barriers in traversing distances to be with those He chose.
To understand that the desire to elevate Him as sovereign indicated intentions to establish the kingdom of Christ prematurely, making His reign apparent before the designated time, it is important to note that He had to first face judgment before administering it. After His crucifixion, when His followers felt disheartened and lost hope in His resurrection, He rose from the grave and encountered two of His disciples who were conversing in despair about recent events. He appeared among them, initially unrecognized due to their inability to see clearly. As He joined their discussion, they explained what they were talking about, revealing that Jesus of Nazareth, a revered prophet in action and word, had been executed by the religious leaders.
They lamented, "But we had hoped that He was the One who would redeem Israel" (see Luke 24:13-21). Their hope was well-founded; indeed, in Him lies the redemption of Israel. Yet they were eager for immediate action, seeking to crown Him (see John 6:15). The same eager expectation is evident when the disciples questioned Him, asking, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). Their yearning for His kingship was clear, but He responded, reminding them that it was not their place to know the times and seasons set by the Father’s authority. Instead, He promised them, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:7-8). They desired His immediate kingship, yet He indicated that first, He must gather what is necessary for His kingdom. While they sought prominence, He called them to follow Him through the path of humility.
and they inquired among themselves. The Evangelist refers to this mutual questioning as co-inquiry, akin to asking, "How is it that He, being who He is, suffered all these things, and how, after dying, did He rise again?"
It should be both more accessible and more joyful for you, the new followers of Christ, to discuss the resurrected Lord. There are no fears to hinder your words about Him, no uncertainties to cloud your thoughts: the truth of Christ's resurrection now shines brightly like the sun. Therefore, reflect during this appointed time of solemn remembrance of His resurrection; are you adequately recalling and speaking of the risen Lord? Are you doing so within your homes, similarly to how the Myrrh-bearers once engaged with the Apostles, and on your journeys as Luke and Cleopas did? We might observe those who faithfully attend church, both for the Divine Liturgy and outside of it, cherishing the sight and sacred interactions with the holy elements.
But can we extend such thoughts to those who flock to houses of indulgence and excess, or to places of frivolity and mockery, which are hardly worthy of joy? Beloved Christian, consider how the true disciples of Christ commemorated the day dedicated to Him even in their imperfection, and let this challenge you against celebrating in a manner akin to the secular. Luke and Cleopas received a remarkable blessing for their meaningful dialogue about Christ, despite their incomplete faith and understanding, for it is written, ‘And Jesus Himself came near, walking with them.’
However, there remained individuals who did not believe (Mark 16:13). Furthermore, not all of the faithful grasped the reality of His current existence. It was essential for the Lord to provide them with fresh nourishment for their souls after their turmoil, in accordance with their forthcoming mission, and to reaffirm His connection with them. To achieve this, the Lord planned to appear to them collectively. Meanwhile, a wavering faith was poised to see the grace of the Holy Spirit withdraw from them; this grace would be restored fully on the day of Pentecost, renewed by the breath of the Spirit. However, before this, the Lord aimed to bring back to His flock some of those who had left Jerusalem.
Among these was Cleopas, a relative of the Lord (Mary, Cleopas' wife, is referred to as the sister of the Mother of God, Jn. 19:25). The identity of the other companion remains unknown. Both were journeying from Jerusalem to Emmaus, a village about 60 stadia away. They departed before the news of the Lord's appearance to Mary Magdalene had spread. During their travels, they engaged in discussion about the recent events in Jerusalem. The disgraceful death of Jesus shattered their hopes of recognizing Him as the Redeemer of Israel. The Lord approached them, partially altering His appearance (Mark 16:12) and also preventing their eyes from recognizing Him (Luke 24:16), and began to converse with them. He demonstrated that it was essential for the Messiah, the Redeemer of Israel, to suffer according to the Scriptures; it was through this suffering that He was destined for glory. This line of reasoning encouraged them to consider that if they believed Jesus was the Messiah, His death should not signify the end of His mission; rather, they should anticipate the promised glorification through His resurrection. Jesus’ teaching was extensive (for the journey was long), as He unpacked the significance of the prophetic scriptures concerning the Messiah, His suffering, and His resurrection. The Evangelist does not specify the passages the Lord referenced, but they were likely the same ones later cited by the disciples and Apostles Peter and Paul in their preaching and letters. The disciples found joy in His words, and their hearts were ignited with hope. When they arrived at their destination, the companion intended to continue on, but they urged Him to stay and shared the evening meal with Him. At that moment, He revealed Himself to them during the breaking of the bread; perhaps the disciples noticed the wounds on His hands, but then He vanished from their sight. This deepened their conviction that they had encountered someone extraordinary, prompting them to return immediately to Jerusalem to share the news with the Apostles.
On the same day, two of Jesus’ followers were making their way to Emmaus, a village located about sixty stadia or 10-12 versts from Jerusalem. Although they were not among the twelve apostles, they were likely part of the larger group of disciples, possibly the seventy. One of these disciples was named Cleopas, as indicated in the subsequent account, while the identity of the other disciple remains unnamed by Luke; tradition suggests it might have been Luke himself. As they walked along, discussing all the events that had transpired recently, they failed to recognize that Jesus was drawing near to them.
As they exchanged worried words about the extraordinary occurrences of the past two days, an unfamiliar figure approached them, inquiring about the cause of their sorrowful demeanor and troubled discussion.
“Having approached, journeyed alongside them": accompanied them along the path, acting as their companion who shares in their journey.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 14 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS