a) Describe the appearance of the Risen Christ to the two men on their way to Emmaus (b) What three benefits to Christians derive from the resurrection of J...

Answer Details

(a) The appearance of the Risen Christ on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)

On the day of the resurrection, two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked they talked with each other about all the things that had happened, that is, the crucifixion of Jesus and the reports of the empty tomb.

While they were discussing, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognising Him. He asked what they were discussing as they walked along looking sad. One of them, named Cleopas, expressed surprise that He seemed to be the only visitor to Jerusalem who did not know the things that had happened. When Jesus asked, "What things?", they told Him about Jesus of Nazareth, a mighty prophet, who was condemned and crucified by the chief priests and rulers; how they had hoped He was the one to redeem Israel; and how some women had found the tomb empty and reported a vision of angels saying He was alive.

Jesus then rebuked them for being foolish and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets had spoken, and beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself and how the Christ had to suffer before entering His glory.

As they drew near the village, He acted as though He would go further, but they constrained Him to stay, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening." So He went in to stay with them. When He was at table, He took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognised Him, and He vanished out of their sight. They said to one another, "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road and opened to us the Scriptures?" That same hour they rose and returned to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven and told them how the Lord had risen and had been known to them in the breaking of the bread.

(b) Three benefits Christians derive from the resurrection of Jesus Christ

• It gives believers the assurance of victory over death and the hope of eternal life and their own resurrection.
• It confirms Jesus as the Son of God and Saviour, strengthening the faith of believers.
• It guarantees forgiveness of sins, justification and the abiding presence and power of the living Christ in the believer's life.