The road to Emmaus · the burning heart
A Bible story to tell as a family · Luke 24:13–35 · ages 5–12 · 12 min
The story
It was the same Sunday on which the women had found the empty tomb. Two of Jesus’ disciples were walking from Jerusalem to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles away. One of them was named Cleopas. Along the way, they talked about everything that had happened. Their feet kept walking, but their hearts were stuck in sadness.
Then Jesus himself came up and walked along with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. He asked, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stood still, sadness on their faces. Cleopas answered, hardly believing it: “Are You the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in recent days?”
And Jesus, who knew everything better than anyone, simply asked, “What things?” And he let them tell it. They talked about Jesus of Nazareth, a powerful prophet, who had been crucified. And they said a sentence full of pain: “But we were hoping He was the One who would redeem Israel.” They told how some women had seen angels saying he was alive, but no one had seen him himself.
Then Jesus spoke firmly: “O foolish ones, how slow are your hearts to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about himself. Imagine: the greatest Bible lesson in history, taught by Jesus in person, on a dirt road, as the sun went down.
As they came near the village, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” And he went in to stay with them. Jesus doesn’t force the door; he accepts the invitation.
At the table, Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they recognized him! And he disappeared from their sight. The two looked at each other and said, “Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
It was already night, but they didn’t wait for the next day. They got up that very hour and walked the whole way back to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven gathered with other friends, who told them, “The Lord has indeed risen and has appeared to Simon!” And the two told what had happened on the road and how they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread.
13That same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15And as they talked and deliberated, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them. 16But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. 17He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stood still, with sadness on their faces. 18One of them, named Cleopas, asked Him, “Are You the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in recent days?” 19“What things?” He asked. “The events involving Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “This man was a prophet, powerful in speech and action before God and all the people. 20Our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to the sentence of death, and they crucified Him. 21But we were hoping He was the One who would redeem Israel. And besides all this, it is the third day since these things took place. 22Furthermore, some of our women astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23but they did not find His body. They came and told us they had seen a vision of angels, who said that Jesus was alive. 24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had described. But Him they did not see.” 25Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, how slow are your hearts to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?” 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself. 28As they approached the village where they were headed, He seemed to be going farther. 29But they pleaded with Him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus—and He disappeared from their sight. 32They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, gathered together 34and saying, “The Lord has indeed risen and has appeared to Simon!” 35Then the two told what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread.
What the Bible says
- v. 15: As the two were talking, Jesus himself came up and walked with them.
- v. 27: Beginning with Moses and the Prophets, Jesus explained what all the Scriptures said about him.
- v. 31: At the breaking of the bread, their eyes were opened and they recognized him.
What we learn
Jesus walks with disappointed people, even when we don’t recognize him. He listens before he teaches, asking “What things?”, and then shows that the whole Bible points to him. Scripture warms the heart; the shared table opens the eyes. That is why the Bible read along the way and the bread shared at home are places where Jesus makes himself known. And whoever meets the Risen One doesn’t save the news for tomorrow: they run back to tell it.
Questions to talk about
For little ones
- Who started walking with the two friends?
- At what moment did they recognize Jesus?
For kids
- Why did Jesus ask what had happened, if he already knew?
- The disciples said their hearts were burning. What do you think that means?
For teens
- They said: we were hoping. Have you ever been disappointed with God because things didn’t turn out the way you hoped? What does Jesus do with their disappointment in this story?
For adults
- What are our roads to Emmaus, the conversations where we speak of God only in the past tense? How can we invite Jesus to stay at our table this week?
Activity
Emmaus walk: take a walk around the block (or around the house) in pairs, and each person tells the other one sad thing and one good thing from the week. When you get back, sit at the table, break bread together, give thanks, and have someone read Luke 24:32 aloud.
To memorize: Luke 24:32
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for walking with us even when we don’t see you. Stay with us in our home. Warm our hearts when we read your Word, and open our eyes to recognize you. Amen.