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4. Jesus Reveals Himself to the Two Disciples of Emmaus (Mark 16:12-13)
MARK 16:12-13
12 After these things he was revealed in another form to two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country. 13 They went away and told it to the rest. They didn’t believe them, either.
On the first day of the week of the Passover, two of Jesus’ disciples went back sadly to their village, after they had celebrated the great feast, which coincided that year with the isolation and fear of sad events.
The apostle Luke tells us the details of this report in chapter 24:13-35 of his gospel, and emphasized the love of Jesus for his confused disciples, who lost all their earthly hopes through the crucifixion of their Master.
Most of Jesus’ followers understood his coming both in a worldly and in a spiritual way. They did not recognize that the kingdom of Christ is not of this world. The disciples of Emmaus mixed religion with state, politics with faith, money with spirit, and time with eternity.
They did not know that Jesus led them to self-denial, and emptiness from desire, lusts, and pride, and to humility, contentment, love, and effort with meekness and abstinence, to sacrifice their whole lives. Christ does not build his kingdom on weapons of war, nor does he demand taxes, certificates of higher education, or a powerful mediation. He himself is the Way and the Mediator to a new life, who creates a spiritual creation in his followers and conforms them to his image.
These thoughts require a change of mind, i.e. a radical repentance. He who wants to follow Jesus has a new goal, no longer seeking money, authority, lusts, and self-esteem. Jesus rather shows and guides us to freedom from sin and temptation. Whoever follows him humbles himself, and learns to sacrifice himself for those who are needy, in the knowledge of the humble Son of God who is in himself neither proud nor deceitful, but emptied himself of his glory, becoming a man and a servant to everyone, recognizing the disease in men, which is sin. He bore the judgment in place of everyone, and died for our justification, a living sacrifice acceptable to God.
The two disciples did not understand this completely, having expected a powerful king. Now, they have seen a weak Savior on the cross. They believed in a bright Deliverer, and they placed him in a tomb the day before. They wished him who came from heaven to teach them, develop them, and appoint them as ministers and honorable men in his all-dominating kingdom. Yet, now they ran away from the state authorities, afraid and frustrated.
Because of such thoughts, Jesus reproved these disciples. He called them foolish and slow of heart, for they did not understand what the Holy Spirit taught them. Christ must suffer and die in order to enter into his glory. He came not for judgment and domination, but reconciliation and atoning death. He did not come to live for us, but to die in our place, for this is the only way to reconcile men to God. Whoever denies the Crucified One does not understand God in his truth. Whoever seeks to stand before God without his meek Lamb Jesus is not yet aware of his own great sin, which separates him from the Holy One.
The Crucified One is the only established bridge to God, and he who has been raised from the dead is our faithful Mediator. Jesus frees us from self-righteousness, self-content, and self-esteem. He teaches us to stretch out our hands to the redeeming Deliverer. No one living is righteous before God. Christ is our righteousness.
The eleven disciples sat down on confusion and fear in the upper room. And when the two disciples of Emmaus came in joyfully and cheerfully and testified that Christ was alive, and that he spoke to them showing the necessity of his death and resurrection, the disciples looked at one another, and shook their heads. Foolish thoughts ran through their minds, for Mary Magdalene and some women had already told them about this strange event. Is Christ truly risen?
Probably some of them said: “If that were true, he would appear to us first”. Others answered: “Maybe he wanted to punish us for deserting him, and for Peter’s denial.
At last, they all concurred in the implausibility of the story of his resurrection, and did not believe it. Those were the apostles in their own power, for the Holy Spirit had not yet dwelt in them. Their faith was not a true, courageous, and living faith, for upright faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER: O Lord, who has been raised from the dead, forgive our unbelief and slowness of heart. Open our eyes that we may see the necessity of your death, and the greatness of your victory on the cross. You are the Holy One. You have been raised from the dead, and death could not destroy you. You are alive, and your life is love. As you revealed yourself on earth, so you are today in the Spirit. Teach us to follow you in self-denial, to love you alone, and to serve men as you made yourself a servant to the unworthy. Amen.
QUESTION:
- Why did the disciples not understand Jesus’ death, and not believe in his resurrection?