The Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus
A Seattle Church has an Interesting Mural Regarding This Event
Jesus Appears to Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus
Lk 24:13-14 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.[530] And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
Lk 24:15-16 Mk 16:12 And it came to pass, after that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and appeared in another form[531] unto them as they walked, and went with them into the country. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
Lk 24:17-18 And he said unto them, “What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?” And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas,[532] answering said unto him, “Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?”
Fn [530] It says, “the same day” which would be Sunday. Threescore furlongs are about 7.5 miles.
Fn [531] Jesus seems to be able to appear in different “forms” after His resurrection? Ch 25, Pg. 266, Jn 21:12-15.
Fn [532] Some commentaries say Cleopas is the same person as Cleophas in Ch 22, Pg. 246, xJn 19:25- 27. If true, then Cleophas’ wife is “the other Mary” in Ch 23, Pg. 251, Lk 23:55-56., Mt 27:61, .Mk 15:47; and Ch 24, Pg. 255, Mt 28:1, {Mk 16:9., Jn 20:1.; and was indeed a disciple. Some commentaries believe they were the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, not two men.
Of course, other commentaries suggest if these two Disciples were indeed married, Scripture would have defined this. In addition, since it appears they may have been traveling at night, it was not anywhere near a common occurrence for a female to be traveling at night during that time without a large body of others to protect them, even if her husband was with her. There is not enough information to determine this one way or another and this blog’s intent is simply to encourage discussion.
Analysis of the Mural
Panel-Frame 1 of Mural – The Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus
See the map to the Right and compare it with the first frame above of the Mural.
Lk 24:19-20 And he said unto them, “What things?” And they said unto him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
Lk 24:21-24 “But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day[533] since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.”
Lk 24:25-27 Then he said unto them, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?”[534] And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Lk 24:28-29 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, “Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And he went in to tarry with them.
Lk 24:30-32 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.535 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?”
Fn [533] This would still be Sunday.
Fn [534] Jesus admonishes the two disciples and implies His sufferings and glory are clearly stated in the Old Testament. These disciples were not the only ones who were “scolded” and did not see this. See Appendix 1.
Panel-Frame 2 of Mural – The Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus
In the second frame of the mural to the right, we can see the bread on the table that Jesus broke in the same way as he did at the last supper. This is right before he disappeared. I’m not sure if it is the photo, but it appears Jesus does not have a halo here. Maybe because the artist was indicating that Jesus “Appeared in a different form.” If this is true, I’m not sure why Jesus does have a halo in the first frame.
It is very possible that both Cleopas/Cleophas and his wife were at the last supper. We know that women we present when Jesus was eating (Marth and Mary). It is clear they both understood the significance and meaning of the broken bread shown in front of Jesus and that would cause them to recognize Jesus.
Lk 22:12-13 Mk 14:15-16 Mt 26:19 “And he will show you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us. And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they did as Jesus had appointed them; And they made ready the passover.
There appears to be servants working in the background and looking in from a window, but I do not understand who the two people in the dark in the foreground are. I am also not sure what the background indicates. There is a man, a donkey and a dog going up the hill. Emmaus is of a higher elevation that Jerusalem. Since there were already in Emmaus, I don’t know what town is indicated in the background. Perhaps this is an indication of Jesus traveling to Emmaus with the two disciples, although only one person is show with the donkey.
Map of Road to Emmaus from Jerusalem
second map of Emmaus and the road to Jerusalem. Keep in mind it was 7.5 miles from Emmaus to Jerusalem and after Jesus appeared and left them, they would have to travel this 7.5 miles to go back to Jerusalem to tell the others. It may be that they traveled in the dark.
Two Disciples Tell Eleven of the Apostles, Jesus is Risen
Lk 24:33-34 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,[536] Saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.”[537]
Lk 24:35 Mk 16:13 And they went and told what things were done in the way unto the residue: and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. Neither believed they them.[538]
Fn [536] Only Thomas of the Twelve Apostles was missing, see Ch 25, Pg. 264, Jn 20:24-15. This indicates Judas could have been alive and present with the Eleven at this point. See also Q&A Topics 203-205, 208-210.
Fn [537] This establishes even further Jesus appeared to Peter BEFORE he appeared to the other Apostles. The two disciples, who saw Jesus on their way to Emmaus, recount their experience to the eleven Apostles saying Jesus is risen and has already appeared to Peter, even though Peter is present. Again, the only one not in attendance for this event was Thomas, one of the Apostles.
Fn [538] The Apostles and those with them still did not believe Jesus was raised from the dead, even after the two disciples tell them.
Panel-Frame 3 of Mural – The Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus
In the third frame on the left of the attached mural on the top of this blog we can see Cleopas/Cleophas and his wife telling the 11 disciples and others (residue) later. I count 11 males whose faces are shown and one female, which could be Mary Magdalene in the blue headdress. I am happy they also show a black man counted among the Apostles.
We can also see Jesus in the foreground next to some lambs indicating He is the Lamb of God. He now has a halo. He is apparently not able to be seen by the others.
I do not understand why Cleopas/Cleophas is giving the OK sign. I also do not understand who the child with the blonde hair is although the church asserts it just a child in the crowd.
In the background we can also see Roman soldiers and someone running, maybe to tell others Jesus was risen, although it does say the Apostles and others did not believe Cleopas/Cleophas. The church indicated that it was just someone running with no significance.
We can also see that the donkey on the left is looking straight at whoever is viewing the painting. No other person or animal in all 3 frames is doing that. Maybe the animals know more than us? The church indicated that this has no significance.
The multitude of Christian theology believe that the two disciples on their way to Emmaus were two men, not a husband and wife, but this blog’s intent is only to provide some interesting context to this.
