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Echoes on the Emmaus Road

 

As we read the Bible, we'll encounter stories and even phrases that refer back to earlier stories. The fancy literary term for this is intertextuality. We have some examples of that in this story of Jesus appearing to two disciples on the Emmaus Road in Luke 24:13-35. 

The Meal

The first one we'll talk about is the meal. Jesus sits down to share a meal with this couple. Do you remember the first meal in the Bible? It was in Genesis 3 when Eve took some fruit and gave it to Adam. Then there's an important line, ". . . the eyes of both of them were opened . . ." 

Did you notice what happens after Jesus breaks bread in this story? ". . . their eyes were opened . . ."

Now, it's not enough to see these two stories as connected. We have to think about what it means? After that first meal, we realize death enters the world. At this meal, we realize death has been defeated. Jesus has overcome death and new life is available. 

Hospitality and a Divine Messenger

There's another echo of the Old Testament in this story. Actually, it's the inverse of an Old Testament story: The story of Abraham and Sarah being visited. By this time in Genesis 18, Abraham and Sarah had hoped they would have a baby. God has promised them that all people will be blessed through their family. But so much time has passed and there's still no baby. Then when Abraham sees some visitors he shows hospitality, then he receives the good news--the promise is alive.

In Luke 24, these two disciples show hospitality to a stranger. And it's only after showing this hospitality that they also receive the good news--Jesus is alive. Radical hospitality opens them up to a revelation.

The Community

There's also an echo of something which happened earlier in Luke. Just like the birth scene of Jesus, we see that no individual sees the entire picture. Rather it is when the community comes together and shares their experiences--that is when things start to take shape. That's where confirming pieces of evidence are found. The community is the place where revelation can be understood. Faith and experiences are to be shared.

The Frame of the Book

The book of Luke is beautifully written. Back in chapter 2, Luke told us the story of how 12-year-old Jesus was taken into the Temple for the Passover feast. When Joseph and Mary start to go home with their group, they assume Jesus was with them. At the end of the day’s journey, they realize he’s not there. Joseph and Mary rush back to Jerusalem in a panic. On the third day, they find him in the Temple.

Luke frames his book between these two stories. The panicking rush of Joseph and Mary back to Jerusalem with the three days of anxiety. And now these two travelers with their three days of sorrow. Then their delighted rush back to Jerusalem yo tell the others that Jesus is alive again.

The gospel ends where Jesus was found, in the Temple praising God. And remember, when he was 12, Jesus was asking the gray-beards some questions and they were finding he was able to give insight into the scriptures. And here, again, we have Jesus explaining the scriptures.

That's the point of the book of Luke--Jesus explains the scriptures.


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