Cleopas

Knowledge of Scripture Does Not Replace Knowledge of the Saviour

Luke 24:13-35

Three days after the crucifixion of Jesus, two men were leaving Jerusalem, on a 7-mile journey to the town of Emmaus. On their mind were the events of those past days. As disciples of Jesus, they were horrified to see His arrest, speedy trial and crucifixion. They talked together as they journeyed about what they had expected Jesus to do and how confused they were now after had had been killed. 

One of them, a man by the name of Cleopas, had heard a report from the ladies who went to the tomb that morning and found it empty. A couple of the apostles verified this to be the case. He wasn’t sure what that meant, however. His faith in Jesus was being tested. He had many unanswered questions. There were hints of people seeing the resurrected Jesus, but that was not his personal experience. Cleopas had hoped Jesus would redeem Israel (verse 21), but now he wasn’t sure what to think. Were the rumors of His resurrection true? Was there still hope for his nation? All these questions bounced around in his head causing confusion and doubt. He needed assurance and proof that Jesus was indeed who He said He was.

It was into this confusion that the Lord Jesus drew near. There is no recorded reason for Jesus to go to Emmaus, apart from Cleopas. But Cleopas did not recognize the person of Christ walking beside him. His state of mind is revealed when Jesus asked him about the subject of their conversation. Luke tells us that, when asked that question, Cleopas “stood still, looking sad” (verse 17). This matter of Christ’s crucifixion was a sorrowful and disappointing one for Cleopas.

The unrecognized Jesus goes right to the point, “O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken,” he rebuked. He went on to tell Cleopas how the prophets had predicted that the Messiah would be rejected and suffer at the hands of humankind before entering glory. The words Jesus spoke that day touched Cleopas and he would later testify that they seemed to burn in his heart (verse 34).

Jesus’ words encouraged Cleopas and showed Him how the events of that day were predicted by the Old Testament Scriptures, but there was still something missing. Luke 24: 16 tells us what that was when it says, “But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.” Knowledge of the Scriptures cannot replace knowledge of the Saviour. Cleopas would never be satisfied until He had seen that risen Lord.

At this point in the conversation, Jesus and the two travelers had arrived at Emmaus. Luke tells us that Jesus “acted as if He were going farther.” 

Understand something here. Though Jesus had revealed the Scriptures to him and encouraged him through those Scriptures, Cleopas had yet to recognize Him as the risen Saviour. By “acting as if He were going father,” Jesus is testing Cleopas. Would he be content with head knowledge about the Saviour as taught in the Scriptures, or would he cry out for more? Note what happens here.

Luke tells us that Cleopas and his fellow traveler, urged Jesus strongly to stay with them. I like those words. If I were Cleopas that day, and heard the words of Jesus that day, I think I would find my heart crying out inside me, “Show me this Saviour. I need to see Him.” I don’t think I would be content with words and doctrines only. Such was the heart of Cleopas. Only when He was invited to stay did the Lord Jesus enter the home with them.

That time with Cleopas changed everything. As He sat at the table with them, Jesus, taking on the role of Master, broke bread, blessed it and served it to them. At that instant Cleopas’ eyes were opened to see the Lord Jesus before Him. This was a life-changing event. He was so convinced of what he saw that day that he returned took the seven mile journey to Jerusalem that evening to tell the disciples about his experience and tell them that the Lord Jesus had risen indeed (verse 33).

Doubting Cleopas was transformed by his encounter with the living and resurrected Saviour. The Saviour he now knew was much more than a doctrine and a fulfilment of prophecy, he was a living and breathing Christ. His encounter with Jesus brought life to the Scriptures he had been taught.

The question I ask is this: Do I know this Saviour of Scriptures as more than a teaching and doctrine? Have I had a life-changing encounter with Him. In this passage, Cleopas moves from doubting Christ, to an understanding that He fulfilled prophecy, to a personal knowledge of him through his encounter that day. Jesus traveled from Jerusalem to Emmaus, to ease the doubts in Cleopas’ mind, showing us how much He delights to reveal Himself to those whose heart cries out to know Him. May He open my eyes to see Him not just as a doctrine or fulfillment of prophecy but also as risen indeed.