Luke 24:13-35 | John Piper | Two Disciples on their way to Emmaus

Luke 24:13-35   Two Disciples on their way to Emmaus

Risen Christ at Emmaus, Mosaic composition by John Piper (1903–1992), 18 ft mosaic wall, Executed in 1961 ©  St. Paul's Church, Harlow, Essex, England Two of the disciples of Jesus were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking together about all that had happened. Now as they talked this over, Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but something prevented them from recognising him. He said to them, ‘What matters are you discussing as you walk along?’ They stopped short, their faces downcast. Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, ‘You must be the only person staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these last few days.’ ‘What things?’ he asked. ‘All about Jesus of Nazareth’ they answered ‘who proved he was a great prophet by the things he said and did in the sight of God and of the whole people; and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have gone by since it all happened; and some women from our group have astounded us: they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they did not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and found everything exactly as the women had reported, but of him they saw nothing.’ Then he said to them, ‘You foolish men! So slow to believe the full message of the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?’ Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself. When they drew near to the village to which they were going, he made as if to go on; but they pressed him to stay with them. ‘It is nearly evening’ they said ‘and the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them. Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’ They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions, who said to them, ‘Yes, it is true. The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.   READ MORE     Reflection on the Mosaic Church Wall Today’s artistic interpretation of the Emmaus theme is quite unique in that it doesn’t immediately convey the story. For anyone viewing the large scale Church mosaic at St. Paul's Church, Harlow, Essex, the abstract nature of Piper’s design means that the Emmaus theme is not immediately apparent. Yet, the key aspect of the Emmaus story is that the Risen Christ is not recognised by the two disciples. Only when the bread is broken, is He recognised, despite walking and talking with the disciples for a good while before. It is the abstract nature of design of our mosaic by John Piper, that conveys exactly this central element of the story: just like the disciples didn’t recognise Christ at first, so do we as viewers not recognise the Emmaus story immediately. The mosaic challenges us to recognise Christ in the unfamiliar. The coloured abstract planes, creating an overall triangular shape, bring life to an otherwise dark wall. The colour, light and brightness of Christ is celebrated. The many small pieces of the mosaic come together to make a beautiful whole. The Gospel reading of today is also about friendship and offers a rich image of prayer. Jesus and His two friends are sharing a meal together and are just talking. In prayer too, we start to talk, we don’t necessarily see or feel God’s presence immediately, but yet we know He is there. Then Christ will come by unobtrusively and share things back to us, talk to us. Friendship follows and grows… The most precious gift this story though is to know that where two or more are gathered in Jesus’ name, there He is in our midst! by Patrick van der Vorst