THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
To help you understand why the desire to crown Him as king indicated that the kingdom of Christ was to be established prematurely, and to make His kingdom manifest before the appointed time, I will share this: after His crucifixion, when those who believed in Him had lost hope for His resurrection, He rose from the grave and encountered two of His followers, who were deep in sorrow, discussing among themselves the recent events with heavy hearts. Then, unexpectedly appearing to them, their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. He joined their conversation, and they recounted the topic of their discussion, lamenting how Jesus of Nazareth, a mighty prophet in both word and deed, had been put to death by the chief priests.
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They expressed their disappointment, saying, "But we had hoped that He was the One who would redeem Israel" (see Luke 24:13-21). Indeed, you rightly hoped for deliverance through Him, for in Him lies the salvation of Israel. Yet, why the urgency? You seek to install Him as king (see Jn. 6:15). This longing is echoed in the disciples' questions about His return, as they asked, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). They yearned for this kingdom, eager to exalt Him as king. However, He responded to them (for He had yet to ascend), saying, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:7-8). “You wish for Me to establish a kingdom now; let Me first gather what is needed for that kingdom; you desire positions of honor, but I urge you to follow Me in humility.”
You have just heard about how the Lord Jesus, following His resurrection, encountered two of His followers on the road, engaged in conversation concerning the events that had transpired. He inquired about the nature of their discussion. How has this scripture reading benefited us? Significantly, if we comprehend its meaning. Jesus manifested Himself - He was seen yet not identified. The Teacher walked alongside them, embodying the path (Jn 14:6). However, they were not aligned with this path. He discovered them already wandering from it. Previously, before His passion, He had foretold everything: His suffering, His death, and His resurrection on the third day. Although He had predicted all of this, His disciples overlooked His death.
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They were so anguished by witnessing Him crucified that they forgot the teachings He had imparted; they did not anticipate His resurrection and neglected to cling to His promise.
Moses, when the tree approached the rock, prefigured the doubt the disciples exhibited as they beheld the crucified Lord. It was Peter who had denied Him three times. Why did Peter experience doubt? Because the tree was near the rock. When the Lord disclosed the manner of His death, signifying His crucifixion, Peter was horrified: “Lord! May it never be!” (Matthew 16:22). He hesitated at the sight of the rod threatening the stone. Thus, the disciples lost hope in the Lord when they beheld the Crucified One; their hope seemed to vanish in the face of His death. After the resurrection, He approached them as they sorrowfully discussed the events that had taken place; He veiled their eyes so they wouldn’t recognize Him—not to evade believers but to offer shelter to those in doubt. As a third participant in their dialogue, He asked them what they were discussing. Astonished, they wondered how He could be unaware of what had happened in Jerusalem (Luke 24:18). They recounted the events surrounding Jesus and, without realizing it, disclosed the core of their despair: “But we had hoped that He would redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21). This illustrates how doubt emerged when the tree approached the rock, fulfilling the prototype established by Moses.
“We had hoped that He would be the redemption of Israel” (Luke 24:21). Oh, disciples, you once hoped, but now you have lost your hope! Go, robber, warn the disciples! Your despair emerges from seeing the Crucified One, from gazing upon the Hanging One, and from perceiving Him as powerless. You quickly regarded Him as merely a criminal on the cross, a fellow sufferer; yet, you forgot that He is the Author of life. Cry out, thief, from the cross; the saints reveal your guilt. What is His intention? “We hoped He would be the redemption of Israel.” What is His purpose? “Remember me, Lord, when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). They had faith because He was the awaited redemption of Israel. Oh, disciples! Even if He is the redemption of Israel, that alone was insufficient for you; still, He healed and persevered. He who traveled alongside you, He Himself is the way (Jn 14:6).