The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 270

Vers. !3-35.-Emmaus. (For a beautiful paraphrase of tbis Scripture, see tbe passage m Cowper's poem 'Conversation,' beginning, "It happened on a solemn even- tide." The incident is presented by him as an illustration of converse "such as it behoves man to maintain, and such as God approves." And it is impossible to resist the appropr!ateness of the lesson which is enforced.) The time of the memorable appears.nee 1s the afternoon, probably between four and ei.x; and its prominent persons are two disciples, not apostles, whom it is impossible to identify. The one is called Klopas or Cleopha.s, supposed by many to be Alphmus, the brother of Joseph of Nazareth, and father of James; but the name being a contraction of Cleopatrus, the supposition is scarcely admissible. The other is not mentioned by name, and many conjectures concerning him have been framed. A worthy German pastor once said, "The learned cannot come to any agreement who the other was, and I will give you this good counsel-let each of you take his place." Look at these two men as they jour- ney. "The sun of the Resurrection was enveloped in thick clouds of despondency and sorrow, scarcely penetrated by a ray of light.'' It would seem that they had left the gathering of disciples before Mary had brought her tale. What they dwell on is, "True, the body was not in the tomb; but then he was not seen;" and one risen from the dead was a thought which they could scarcely credit. They are not sure even that the women really saw angels; it was, perhaps, only a. vision of angels, and, having the notions of their time as to ghosts and apparitions, they incline to the belief that there was no reality in the presence of whom the Maries and Salome and others had spoken. No; he is dead, and the third day has come and gone, and he has not been seen. Let this state of mind be noted. There was no predisposition in Christ's followers to accept the Resurrection. Far from this, the evidence macJe way against doubtin,gs, against scepticisms, we might say, of the most obstinate nature. 'fhese foolish and slow-hearted men were almost the last people likely to credit the tale. How was it that this temperament, incredulous, despondent, so quickly gave way to one full of worship and great joy? How was it that such men gave up all, travelled hither and thither with the one message ever on their lips, many of them suffering death because they would maintain that the Christ who was crucified did rise, had been seen by them, and is alive for evermore? I can find only one answer to the question-They witnessed to truth. "The Lord is risen indeed.n But regard the incident in the light of the thought that the forty days in which Christ showed himself alive after his Passion were intended as a time of preparation for that new form of his presence which becran when the day of Pentecost was fully come. Studying the forty-days' period, we ea~ find many hints and suggestions as to the manner of Christ's intercourse with us, of his coming to us in the Comforter whom he promised until the end of the age. The ~pecial teaching of this journey to Emma us, and all that befell the two, may be gathered under three points: (1) Christ with us, but ttnrevealed; (2) Ghrist teaching, but :,personally unrecognized; (3) Ghrist revealed and recognized. L CHRIST WlTH us, BUT UNBEVEALED. A Stranger asks the cause of the dejection of the two travellers, and, by his sympathy and courtesy, draws out their confidence. Two reasons for not discerning him are given. The one is (Mark xvi. 12), that "he appeared in another form" than that with which they were familiar. Not the form of the Shepherd going before them, but that'of the Companion in walking and working clothes travelliug by their side. But there is the other reason (ver. HJ)-" Their eyes were holden that they should not know him." They were not at that time in dpiritual light; their vision was narrowed by their great sorrow. Are not these still the reasons why so often we do not see the Christ who is with us as we travel along the thoroughfares of OH, xxrv.1-53.) THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 281