Article April 7, 1917 Issue

The Road to Emmaus

JOSEPH G. ALDEN

In the closing chapter of his wonderful gospel Luke has presented with a historian's genius and a scholar's skill an incident rich in color and hidden meaning. The world has named it "the walk to Emmaus." Leaving minor details to be supplied by the reader's knowledge of preceding incidents, the gospel writer portrays a meeting of the risen Jesus with two of his disciples, their afternoon journey together, and an evening meal which culminated in the veil being removed from the disciples' eyes and the true character of their guest being revealed. In referring to this experience Mrs. Eddy says, "The divine Spirit, which identified Jesus thus centuries ago, has spoken through the inspired Word and will speak through it in every age and clime" (Science and Health, p. 46).

It was the third day after the crucifixion, that fateful day when, like the sudden advent of an unannounced eclipse, the Calvary tragedy had well-nigh blotted out the fading hopes of the Master's followers, and left them without a leader, dejected, forsaken, helpless, and afraid. The two who journeyed to Emmaus doubltess had been among the number that had been drawn to Jerusalem particularly by the presence of Jesus. They had spent those stirring and eventful days preceding the great feast in witnessing the works of healing and listening to the words of wisdom and counsel, comfort and instruction, reproof and condemnation, which fell from the lips of the great Teacher as he discoursed daily in the temple. They had been participants in the common hope that this was "he which should have redeemed Israel," and that in an appointed hour, like Moses of old facing the might of an Egyptian monarch, this Galilean carpenter, endowed with God-given authority, should suddenly transform the chosen people again into a militant force, challenge the might of Cæsar, and with an open show of Jehovah's power strike off at a single blow the Roman shackles which bound them.

The supreme hour of their expectation came, and with sickening hearts they had seen him whose triumphant entry into the holy city had aroused their tumultuous expectation, turn away from the acclaim of the people with averted face. His failure to take advantage of so propitious an occasion was a heavy blow to their hopes, and yet there lingered a slumbering expectation that, in a fate appointed hour yet to come, this man who wrought such wondrous works and spoke with such acknowledged authority and power, would suddenly and miraculously change the peaceful host gathered for the feast into a triumphal army of occupation. The last lingering hope had been quenched by the dark scene they had witnessed at Golgotha, and now, dejected and heavy of heart, they journeyed to Emmaus to put behind them the scene of their great disappointment.

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