Unlike much of the rest of humanity, Jesus is never coy or evasive about his identity to his followers.; so, when I read about his walk to the town of Emmaus, disguised as an unrecognizable stranger to two of his own disciples, I wondered why this was so. (Luke 24:13-25) It is a unique story of an event that occurred the very first day of the discovery of Jesus’ resurrection . The text asserts that They were kept from recognizing him during the whole length of the walk, possibly as much as two to three hours of close contact and conversation. And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24: 12)

Earlier, at the Passover meal, Jesus had spoken to the twelve about a new “Advocate” who would come to them after his resurrection. Jesus said that he would ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit to each of them.: The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:16&17)

I believe that Jesus was not in disguise on a whim, but for a very important purpose. In walking with the disciples, in opening the scriptures to them, in reminding them of himself , Jesus was doing what he had promised that the Holy Spirit would do for them in their lives. Jesus , on the walk to Emmaus was actually modeling the Holy Spirit himself. Though these two disciples may not have been present at the Last Supper, the things he told to the twelve were recorded for the whole world and for us.

Before the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples, Jesus was modeling the Spirit’s life and activity for them. Jesus needed them to understand that though they would not always recognize him in the world, yet he would be there in person. They needed to know and believe that he, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit of God are the same person with the Father. Perhaps for the first time, ordinary people were invited into the life of the the triune God, to be able to know Christ’s presence even if they couldn’t recognize him. The disciples, Cleopas and an unknown one, exclaimed after Jesus broke bread with them and disappeared, Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the scriptures to us? (Luke 24: 32)

They had experienced the companionship of God’s son in the form of a stranger. From then on they could know that Jesus would be able to meet them for real in their world, even as he meets us in our would, whether we recognize him or not.

Love in Him,

Prue