Cleopas and Other Disciple

Luke 24: 13-27 (NRSV)¹³ Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, ¹⁴ and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them,¹⁶ but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷ And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad¹⁸ Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” ¹⁹ He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. ²¹ But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. ²² Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, ²³ and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” ²⁵ Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! ²⁶ Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” ²⁷ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

‘The walk to Emmaus’, a description with a flavour of dramatic elements, is seen in the twenty-fourth chapter of St. Luke’s gospel. This post-resurrection scene in which Jesus is depicted as still thirsty about the salvation of people and specifically concerned about the continuity of the salvific act is a periscope which instils hope in the people amidst distress, hopelessness and utter despair. This long piece, which relates in a singularly vivid and picturesque manner one of the earliest appearances of the Risen, is peculiar to St. Luke. St. Mark (Mark 16:12, 13) mentions it, but as it were only in passing. St. Matthew and St. Mark, holds a middle place between the earliest apostolic memoirs represented by the first two Gospels and the last memoir, that of St. John, which was probably put out in its present form by the apostle “whom Jesus loved” sometime in the last fifteen years of the first century. Writers of varied schools unite in expressions of admiration for this singularly beautiful “memory of the Lord.” Yes, this passage brings forth a beautiful memory of our Lord which is perennial and permanent.

It is important and interesting to note that the “two of the disciples,” although doubtless well known in the apostolic age, seem to have held no distinguished place in early Christian History. Jesus after the resurrection walks and dines with two insignificant people (of that time and history) is undoubtedly an indication of his continuity of characteristic of being with the last and the least in the society. One of the Disciples was Cleopas whose name is a Greek contraction of Cleopatras, which points to Alexandrian antecedents, which suggests that this may in part, perhaps, account for this Cleopas, not improbably a Jew of Alexandria, imparting to St. Luke what had not found its way into the current oral teaching of the Hebrew Church at Jerusalem, as embodied in the narratives St. Matthew and St. Mark. In other words, St. Luke writes this passage getting source from one of the persons in the real incident and the historicity of the incident is thus proven. This journey of the disciples with Jesus Christ is not only a time of dramatic events unfurl, but also a journey that tells us certain points to ponder over. 

An escape from the centre of activity to the peripheries

Jesus entered into Jerusalem with all the paraphernalia (though in an alternate form) of a King to Jerusalem a few days back with all the followers shouting Hosanna. We see a bit different- aggressive- Jesus in the temple. He opposes those who turns his father’s house into a marketplace- challenging the cut-throat attitude of the market, which see human beings as commodities. Jesus explained the nature and characteristics of the kingdom of God (The Parable of the Wedding Banquet, Matthew 22) He talked about politics and indirectly hinted the need of the involvement of people in politics for a society of justice and equality (The Question about Paying Taxes, Matthew 22: 15- 22). He gave the greatest commandment of love, which is a new revelation for the world (Matthew 21: 34- 40). He questioned, challenged and corrected the Pharisees and Scribes (Matthew 23). He talks about the judgement of nations and hints at his crucifixion. He was caught, faced the trial and crucified. Series of events, which were incomprehensive for many of the disciples including Cleopas and ‘the other one’. They could not withstand the pressure the series of events mounted. They could not really understand the words of Jesus Christ. They could not pray with Jesus when he was in agony. They could not be there under the cross because they were afraid. They started to flee when they heard about the resurrection fearing the aftermath of that perplexing incident. They were not able to be part of the most exciting event in the life of Jesus even though they were disciples of him. 

The Christian life is not a way decorated with rose petals. It is not a way of life which offers you all the wealth and worldly pleasures as some ‘prosperity gospel preachers’ propagate. It is a life of challenges, a call to be with Jesus which means follow his directives to love each other, do justice, and be righteous in every walks of our lives, and a commitment to be the salt and light in the world. It is an invitation by Jesus to us to be with him and carry the cross. These poor disciples in history could not understand this ‘new testament’ and ran away to the peripheries.

But the resurrected Jesus followed them!

A journey of perplexities and confusions     

The disciples travelled to Emmaus with mixed feelings. They were confused, perplexed, devastated, disappointed, and clueless about their future. They were the disciples of a popular ‘guru’ with supernatural powers. The guru claimed that he is the Son of God. Did these disciples believe it? The answer is ambiguous. They explained who this Jesus was supposed to have been to the resurrected Jesus. “He was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,” which can be paraphrased as “equally great in secret contemplative holiness and in public acts of beneficence.” But then the “two” explained, “This he was; for he is no more. Our chief priests and rulers have done him to death. They have crucified him.” They are not sure about the resurrected Jesus. They could not read between the lines those Jesus proclaimed that he will resurrect. They did not reach the level of faith that needed to realise that Jesus himself is the Messiah. The divinity of Jesus that makes him greater than a guru and lead him to sacrifice his own life for the salvation of his own creations was a mystery for the disciples. 

But the Emmaus experience transforms them and make them understand the real meaning of the presence of Jesus among them. 

The exact meaning of the presence of Jesus among us and in us is the realisation of the sacrifice he had done for us, his victory over death, his compassion for the world, and his willingness to follow us and be with us even when we try to shrug him off and distance ourselves with him. That is what Jesus was doing with Cleopas and the other disciple. This presence of Jesus is an assurance to be bold to do justice, love others and resist evils. Jesus follows us so that we will come back from the peripheries of disappointment and inertia to Jerusalem, the centre of actions of resistance, facing challenges and carrying the cross. 

Jesus who follows us, Jesus in search of us and Jesus who is with us makes us stronger to face difficult situations. When the world shivers with fear and anxiety because of the deadly CORONA Virus which already took away the lives of more than 80,000 people, our faith tells us about this Jesus. Faith in him instils hope and at the same time invites us to be back into Jerusalem, back into action. Emmaus experience is the call for staying firm in the discipleship. This painful time of pandemic is a time to reiterate in the resurrection of Jesus who won over the powers of death. This faith should become lucid as Cleopas and the other disciple experienced. 

Realising Jesus in the broken bread

The disciples who walked away from Jesus to Emmaus realises his presence among them only when Jesus took the bread and broke it for them during the dinner. The disciples had the experience of the fellowship and the broken body of Jesus which opened their inner eyes. Jesus was the leader who realised the hunger and thirst of people. He was concerned about the basic needs of people in his earthly life and he is still concerned even after his resurrection. This Jesus was experienced by the disciple around a piece of bread which is broken and accepted that broken piece as food. The brokenness of the body of Jesus and the fellowship around the memory of it makes us follow the command of him to realise a world where “all may be one”. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father/Mother, we submit ourselves to your table. Fill will your strength so that we will realise the real meaning of fellowship. Challenge us so that we will go back to the centre of actions where we will change love into realisation. 

Amen.

Pic courtesy: © Art Revisited, Tolbert www.artrevisited.com