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\nAll these amazing tales had shaken them somewhat, but had not really convinced them of an event so portentous and unexpected. Serious-minded men, they could not understand or believe what they had heard: if the body of the Master was no longer there, might it have been taken away by men\u2019s hands?<\/p>\nCleopas and his companions were good Jews, men who left a place for the ideal in their minds, burdened with many material cares. But this place for the ideal was not to be too large, and this ideal must be commensurate with their own natures if it were not to be expelled as an unwelcome guest.<\/p>\n
Like almost all the Disciples, they too expected the coming of a Liberator, but of one who would come to liberate Israel first of all, \u2014a Messiah, in short, who would be the son of David rather than the Son of God, a warrior on horseback rather than a poor pedestrian, a scourge of His enemies and not a lover of sick people and children.<\/p>\n
The words of Christ had almost given them a glimpse of higher truths, but the crucifixion disheartened them. They loved Jesus, and they suffered in His suffering, but this sudden, shameful ending without glory and without resistance was too great a contrast to what they had expected, and especially to much of what they had hoped.<\/p>\n
They could understand that He might be a humble Savior, riding on gentle asses instead of warlike chargers, and a little more spiritual and gentle than they would have liked; they could understand this, although with difficulty, and endure it, although grudgingly. But that the Liberator had not known how to free either Himself or others, that the Messiah of the Jews should have died through the will of so many Jews on the scaffold of murderers and parricides, was too great a disappointment, \u2014an inexcusable scandal.<\/p>\n
They pitied the crucified leader with all their hearts, but at the same time they were tempted to believe that they had been deceived about His real nature. His death\u2014 and what a death!\u2014looked to their narrow, practical minds sadly like a failure.<\/p>\n
They were reasoning together of all these things as they went along under the warm noonday sun and at times, discussion got hot, for they did not always agree. Then suddenly, they caught a glimpse of a shadow on the ground near them. They turned around.<\/p>\n
The shadow was that of a man who was following as if he wished to hear what they were saying. They stopped, as was the custom, to greet him, and the traveler joned them. His did not seem an unknown face to the two men, but look at him as they might, they could not think who it was.<\/p>\n
The newcomer, instead of answering their silent questions, asked them, \u201cWhat manner of communications are these that you have one to another, as you walk?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cleopas, who must have been the older, answered with a wondering gesture, \u201cAre you the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have you not known the things which have happened in these recent days?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat things?\u201d asked the unknown man.<\/p>\n
\u201cConcerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. And how the chief priests and our rulers delievered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel. And beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulcher; and when they found not his body, they came saying that they had also seen visions of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulcher and found it even so as the women had said, but him they saw not.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh fools, and slow of heart,\u201d exclaimed the stranger, \u201cto believe all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? Do you not remember how He was predicted from Moses down to our own time? Have you not read Ezekiel and Daniel? Do you not even know our songs of the Lord and His promises?\u201d<\/p>\n
And almost indignantly He recited the old words and the prophecies, recalled the description of the Man of Sorrows given by Isaiah. The two listened, docile and attentive, without answering, because the newcomer spoke with so much heat, and the old admonitions in His mouth took on new warmth and a meaning so clear that it seemed almost impossible that they had not understood them before. The talk of the newcomer gave them the impression of being the echo of other talks like those heard in times past, but confusedly, like the voice on the other side of a wall.<\/p>\n
In the meantime they had arrived at the entrance of Emmaus, and the pilgrim made as though He would have gone further. But now the two friends were not willing to part with their mysterious companion, and they begged Him to stay with them. The sun was going down, throwing a warmer golden light on the countryside, and their three shadows lengthened on the dusty road.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbide with us,\u201d they said, \u201cfor it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.\u201d Also thou art tired and it is the hour for food. And they took Him by the hand and made Him come into the house where they were going.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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