Burning Hearts

When he was at the table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Luke 24: 30-35

It would not have been strange for a few Passover pilgrims to join up along the road while traveling. In this passage, Cleopas and an unnamed disciple are in an intense discussion, walking along the way to Emmaus. Given the weekend’s events — the crucifixion of Jesus — this conversation was remarkably full of emotion and question. Little did they know, the risen Christ was walking and talking with them. They paused for the evening and invited Jesus, the stranger, to stay with them, as was their custom.

Jesus throughout this whole experience pretends to be unaware of the recent events. And Cleopas goes on to explain their understanding of Jesus, yet the disciples seemed to understand everything explained except the living fact that Jesus was right before them. But as Jesus, breaks bread, this moment of devotion opens their “eyes.” So why? Clearly, it had something to do with their communion that changed what they knew and how they connected to Jesus. This is because there is a cavernous difference between knowing about someone and truly knowing someone. Connecting those two set’s of knowledge gave the men a glimpse of the risen Lord!