Him They Did Not See

And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Luke 24:13-26


Two walking along, talking about all the recent sad and peculiar events. A stranger comes alongside, overhearing the conversation. "What are you talking about?" "You must be visiting Jerusalem alone, stranger, and has nobody told you about the things that have been going on here?" He asked for an explanation. "About Jesus, the Nazarene. A mighty prophet and a miracle worker. We thought He was the Messiah, but the chief priests and rulers had him arrested and crucified three days ago.

The latest development is that some of the women went to the tomb this morning and His body was gone! Some of the disciples went to see for themselves and found that it was exactly as the women had said. He is not there. The angels said He is alive."

How dense could they be? ("O foolish men!") The prophets had been proclaiming this doctrine for centuries! The Christ must suffer first. The cross before the crown. These Jews just never would comprehend that the Messiah would be tortured, humiliated and would die as a man, in order to bring about the redemption of mankind. From Abel's offering through the offering of Isaac and the annual offering of the Passover lamb, they had been taught that without the shedding of blood there is no redemption. All of those Old Testament blood offerings of the lamb without spot or blemish were illustrations of the final atonement by the death of the sinless Lamb of God. Isaiah 53 gives the prophesy in graphic detail. All Jews knew that scripture, as well as others that indicated the suffering and death of Messiah, before His glorious reign. It is hard to get through to humans with truths that they don't want to hear, even though the Passover Lamb Himself has repeatedly told them.