On The Road to Emmaus

¹³That same day two of Jesus' followers were going to a town named Emmaus. It is about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴They were talking about everything that had happened. ¹⁵While they were discussing these things, Jesus himself came near and walked with them. ¹⁶(But the two men were not allowed to recognize Jesus.) ¹⁷Then Jesus said, "What are these things you are talking about while you walk?" The two men stopped. Their faces looked very sad. ¹⁸The one named Cleopas answered, "You must be the only person in Jerusalem that does not know what has just happened there." ¹⁹Jesus said to them, "What are you talking about?" The men said to him, "It's about Jesus, the one from Nazareth. To God and to all the people he was a great prophet.* He said and did many powerful things. ²⁰But our leaders and the leading priests gave him away to be judged and killed. They nailed Jesus to a cross. ²¹We were hoping that Jesus would be the one to free Israel (the Jews). But then all this happened. And now something else: It has been three days since [Jesus was killed], ²²but today some of our women told us an amazing thing. Early this morning the women went to the tomb (grave) where the body of Jesus was laid. ²³But they did not find his body there. They came and told us that they had seen two angels in a vision.* The angels said that Jesus was alive! ²⁴So some of our group went to the tomb, too. It was just like the women said--[the tomb was empty]. They saw the tomb, but they did not see him (Jesus)." ²⁵Then Jesus said to the two men, "You are foolish and slow to realize what is true. You should believe everything the prophets* said. ²⁶The prophets said that the Christ* must suffer these things before he enters his glory." ²⁷Then Jesus began to explain everything that had been written about himself in the Scriptures.* Jesus started with the books of Moses and then he talked about what the prophets had said about him. ²⁸They came near the town of Emmaus and Jesus acted like he did not plan to stop there. ²⁹But they wanted him to stay. They begged him, "Stay with us. It is late; it is almost night." So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰Jesus got ready to eat with them and took some bread. He gave thanks for the food and divided it. Then he gave it to them. ³¹At that time, the men were allowed to recognize Jesus. But when they saw who he was, he disappeared. ³²The two men said to each other, "When Jesus talked to us on the road, it felt like a fire burning in us. It was exciting when he explained to us the true meaning of the Scriptures.*" ³³So the two men got up then and went back to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem they found the followers of Jesus meeting together. The eleven apostles* and those people that were with them ³⁴said, "The Lord (Jesus) really has risen from death! He showed himself to Simon (Peter)." ³⁵Then the two men told the things that had happened on the road. They talked about how they recognized Jesus when he divided the bread.

prophet A person that spoke for God. vision(s) Something like dreams that God used to speak to people. prophet(s) People that spoke for God. Some of them wrote books that are part of the Old Testament. Christ The "anointed one" (Messiah) or chosen one of God. Scriptures Holy Writings--the Old Testament. apostles Men that Jesus chose to be his special helpers for telling his Good News to the world.