Road to Emmaus by Corey Snow
The central message of the gospel is that Jesus conquered death. This is also the ultimate manifestation of God’s love for us. All four gospel authors end their narratives by sharing multiple events in which people saw and interacted with the resurrected Jesus:
- Several women, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (mother of James and Joseph), Salome (mother of James and John), and Joanna, went to the tomb early Monday morning. They saw the stone rolled away, and two angels announced to them, “I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here, for he is risen.” The apostles didn’t believe them, but Peter and John ran to the tomb and saw that it was empty. Shortly after, Mary Magdalene saw and spoke with Jesus at the tomb. (See Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-11, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-18.)
- Two disciples walked with a stranger on the road to Emmaus later that day. He explained to them the events of that weekend were an essential part of Jesus’s mission and a fulfillment of prophecy. When they arrived at Emmaus and He broke bread with them, they recognized Him, but He immediately “vanished out of their sight.” They returned to Jerusalem and told the others, but according to Mark, no one believed them either. (See Mark 16:12-13, Luke 24:13-35.)
- Later that evening, Jesus appeared to a group of disciples (including ten of the apostles), who were gathered in an enclosed room. He calmed them by saying, “Peace be unto you.” He showed them His hands and feet and ate fish and honey to demonstrate that He was not a spirit. He told them to stay in Jerusalem “until ye be endued with power from on high.” Then, He led them to Bethany and blessed them. (See Luke 24:36-53, John 20:19-23.)
- Eight days later, He again appeared to them in a room with closed doors. All eleven apostles were there this time, and He invited Thomas to touch the wounds in His hands, feet, and side. (See John 20:24-29.)
- Sometime later, He visited eight of His disciples in Galilee. He invited Peter three times to feed His “sheep.” He charged the apostles to preach the gospel to “every creature” in “all nations.” (See Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-18, John 21. See also the blog post: The Great Commission.
Here are some lessons I’ve learned from these events, with related blog posts:
“As it began to dawn”
Why was Mary Magdalene the first person to see the resurrected Savior? Part of the reason might be that she was the first to look for Him. Early Sunday morning, she went with a group of women to anoint the Savior’s body. After they found the tomb empty, and after Peter and John saw the same for themselves, Mary apparently remained alone at the tomb. (See John 20:11.)
Like the Nephites and Lamanites who gathered at the temple in Bountiful a short time later (3 Nephi 11:1), Mary was in the right place at the right time. We can’t always know when something magnificent will happen, but we can increase our probability of being part of it by standing in holy places and doing good works.
See the fifth section of this blog post:
“He opened the scriptures”
As Jesus walked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus, He provided context for the confusing things they had experienced over the last three days. “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things,” He asked, “and to enter into his glory?” Then, “beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:26-27). They subsequently marveled, “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32).
Later that day, when He appeared to a larger group of disciples, He “opened…their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Luke 26:45).
On the American continent, the resurrected Savior also provided context by sharing many scriptures, including passages from Moses, Isaiah, Micah, and Malachi. Mormon tells us that He “expounded all the scriptures in one” (3 Nephi 23:14).
Our perspective also grows as we develop a holistic understanding of the combined messages of the prophets. Here’s a blog post on that topic:
“Be believing”
Mark tells us that Jesus chastised all of the apostles for not believing the first groups of people who had seen Him. (See Mark 16:14.)
John reports a specific conversation with Thomas, who was the last of the apostles to see Him. “Be not faithless, but believing,” He said. Then, He added, “Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:27, 29).
Jesus told the people He visited on the American continent that they would be blessed if they followed the twelve disciples He had chosen. Then, He added, “More blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me” (3 Nephi 12:1-2, italics added).
Moroni urged us, “Doubt not, but be believing” (Mormon 9:27). Some good things will only happen if we first believe. Why? Maybe because belief opens our souls and makes us receptive. Unbelief may cause us to withdraw and disconnect from the people and experiences which can bring joy into our lives.
See the following blog posts:
“Feed my sheep”
Three times, Peter denied that he knew Jesus during that horrific Friday night. Later, on the shore of the sea of Galilee, Jesus gave him three opportunities to reaffirm his love. Each time, after Peter declared, “Thou knowest that I love thee,” Jesus responded, “Feed my lambs” or “Feed my sheep.” (See John 21:15-17.)
Jesus is our shepherd if we are willing to follow Him. He also asks for our help in shepherding His flock. We show our love for Him by taking care of one another:
Although Peter was called to preach the gospel during his lifetime, John received a different call. Like three of the disciples on the American continent, he would remain on the earth until the Savior’s Second Coming. (See 3 Nephi 28:6, John 21:20-24, Doctrine and Covenants 7:1-3.) We can each play unique roles in serving God’s children on earth:
Blog Posts: June 27 – July 2
Be Not Faithless, but Believing
Jesus wants us to believe the testimony of other people. He chastised the apostles for not believing witnesses of His resurrection. He praised Alma for believing the words of Abinadi. We too can listen to the testimony of others with a believing heart.
Behold the Wounds!
Resurrected bodies are flawless, but Jesus was resurrected with His wounds still in place. He showed His wounds to a number of people. His wounds serve as evidence that He is the Christ. They are also symbols of the suffering that He bore for us.
Lovest Thou Me?
On the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus asked Peter three times, “Lovest thou me?” The Greek version of that conversation sheds some light on why Jesus repeated the same question: He was inviting Peter to love Him more, to love Him with a divine love.
…More Than These?
Jesus asked if Peter loved Him “more than these?” He might have meant everything around them: the boat, the sea, the nets. Peter was in his comfort zone. Did he love the Savior enough to sacrifice those things he loved so much in order to follow Him?
“Feed My Sheep”
Three times, Jesus invited Peter to feed His sheep. We can be good shepherds by getting to know the people we serve, looking for ways to help them, and pointing them to the Savior.
Flesh and Bones
Resurrected bodies are tangible, just like our mortal bodies. But they are also different in some ways. After His resurrection, Jesus was not constrained by walls, was not always recognizable, and was able to ascend to heaven.
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