The story of the two doubting disciples on the road to Emmaus is an interesting insight into the heart of many Christians – us all I suppose, at times. We should remember that these men were believing disciples. The Lord’s method of interacting with them draws them out and shows us a their deep interest in the Savior. Jesus tested their faith by withholding his identity – will they believe the resurrection without seeing his body, or would they need the body as Thomas did? He tested their knowledge by questioning them (vs. 19), and he tested their interest be making as though he was going to journey on (vs. 29). The disciples proved true on each of these “tests.” As this “stranger” talked with them by the way their hearts burned with desire and they constrained him to continue with them – although they still did not know it was Jesus.
Notice, however, when these two men identified the Lord Jesus; it was at the breaking of bread. What was it that caused them to know him? I suggest two reasons. First, they recognized his servant hands – He serves them; (vs. 30) He took bread, he broke it, he blessed it, and He gave it to them. Second, they recognized His pierced hands. As he reached across the table with the bread to serve them, they saw the nail prints – and he vanished.
The narrative suggests that it was not the resurrection that they doubted but the fact that their Messiah had suffered and died – this is what the Lord answers (vs. 26). It was when they understood that Christ was the Suffering Servant that they recognized him in person. He is still our suffering servant whom we see at the Table of the Lord – touched with our infirmities and advocating for us.
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Aaron Dunlop, who is originally from Northern Ireland, graduated from the Geneva Reformed Seminary, SC. He pastored for ten years in Victoria, British Columbia and is currently preparing to move to Kenya with his family to work with the FAME Reformed Theological College.
