33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Is it not true that when we have wonderful news to tell our feet become swift enroute to share the glad tidings with those we love? We are so filled with joy that we can hardly wait to pronounce the good news to those we are closest to. Not too dissimilar to our two disciples in our verses for today, when their eyes were opened by Jesus, they could not get back to the other disciples fast enough! Their desire was to rekindle the inner flame of their distraught and defeated companions with the truth of Jesus’ resurrection.
“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” Albert Schweitzer
“Now that they had seen Christ they could not rest until they had brought the good news to the disciples, both for the confirmation of their trembling faith and for the comfort of their sorrowful spirits. It is the duty of those to whom Christ has shown himself to let others know what he has done for their souls. These disciples were full of this matter themselves, and must go to their brothers, to give vent to their joys.” Matthew Henry
“It is an important thing to know, assuredly, that the Scripture has such a witness as experience, and that there is a real correspondence between the saints and the word, between the believer and Christ. What an empty thing would religion be, without a heart-felt knowledge of its truth! Experience is the sure and secret mark whereby the Christian knows that the Scripture is of God, and feels his own interest in Christ; he has been raised from the depths of gloom by the application of the word to his heart. O what an excellent interpreter is experience!” C. H. Von Bogatzky
7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7 (NIV)
I am quite confident that in all of their excitement, the seven miles to Jerusalem seemed as seven steps to them. Prior to His death, Jesus had predicted that their grief would turn to joy. We find in John:
19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'? 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. John 16:19-22 (NIV)
In their joy, it was their desire to acknowledge the truth of the report of Jesus’ resurrection to the others for they had themselves recognized the Savior. They had been privileged to be “eye witnesses of His majesty” as Peter tells us:
16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Peter 1:16 (NIV)
Our faith is not founded on clever stories and myths rather it is founded upon sound historical facts corroborated by eyewitness accounts. Three reports had now been given on this first day – the women, Peter, and our two disciples in the verses for today – Cleopas and his companion. On a side note, I think that it was ever so sweet of Jesus to appear privately with Peter. Certainly Peter had to have been downtrodden after denying his Savior three times – particularly after boasting that he would never do that (sadly, I can so relate - I try hard not to say that I will never do something or conversely that I will always do something – it seems that just as quickly as those words leave my big fat mouth I find myself doing what I would have never predicted!)! Paul also affirms to us this restorative visit between Peter and Jesus and passes on to us the truth of “first importance”:
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 1 Cor 15:3-5 (NIV)