The Road to Emmaus
Two discouraged disciples walk toward Emmaus when a stranger joins them. As He explains the Scriptures and breaks bread, their eyes are opened—it's Jesus!
Luke 24:13-35
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The Story
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.
He asked them, 'What are you discussing together as you walk along?'
They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, 'Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?'
'What things?' he asked.
'About Jesus of Nazareth,' they replied. 'He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed. The chief priests handed him over to be crucified. We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. Some women amazed us—they went to the tomb but didn't find his body. They came and told us they had seen angels who said he was alive.'
He said to them, 'How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?' And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
As they approached the village, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, 'Stay with us, for it is nearly evening.' So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
They asked each other, 'Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?'
They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven gathered together, and they told what had happened on the road, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
The Stranger on the Road
Kids Version
It was the same day Jesus rose from the dead. Two of His followers were walking to a village called Emmaus. They were SO sad.
'I can't believe Jesus is gone,' one said. His name was Cleopas.
'I thought He was the one who would save Israel,' the other said.
A stranger came up and started walking with them.
'What are you talking about?' the stranger asked.
They stopped and stared at Him. 'Are you the ONLY person who doesn't know what happened? Jesus of Nazareth was crucified! We thought He was the Messiah. Now He's dead.'
The stranger shook His head. 'Don't you understand? The prophets said the Messiah HAD to suffer before entering His glory!'
Then the stranger started explaining the WHOLE Bible—from Moses to all the prophets—showing how everything pointed to Jesus!
The two disciples listened with wide eyes. Their hearts felt like they were on FIRE!
When they reached Emmaus, it was getting dark. 'Please stay with us!' they begged.
The stranger agreed. They sat down to eat. The stranger took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them.
Suddenly—their eyes were opened! The stranger was JESUS!
And then—POOF! He disappeared!
'NO WONDER our hearts were burning!' they said. 'It was JESUS the whole time!'
They ran ALL the way back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples: 'We SAW Jesus! He's ALIVE!'
Jesus loved them so much that He walked beside them even when they didn't recognize Him. He's with us too, even when we can't see Him.
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Scripture — Luke 24:13-35 (KJV)
13And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. vanished: or, ceased to be seen of them
32And they said one to another , Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
33And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
34Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
35And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
Memory Verse
“And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.”
— Luke 24:13 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “The Road to Emmaus” in the Bible?
Two discouraged disciples walk toward Emmaus when a stranger joins them. As He explains the Scriptures and breaks bread, their eyes are opened—it's Jesus! This story is found in Luke 24:13-35.
Where is “The Road to Emmaus” found in the Bible?
“The Road to Emmaus” is found in Luke 24:13-35, in the book of Luke.
What can children learn from “The Road to Emmaus”?
This story teaches children about Scripture reveals Jesus, Discouragement to joy, Recognizing Jesus, Fellowship. Two sad disciples were walking home when a stranger joined them. He explained the Bible to them. At dinner, they finally recognized Him—it was Jesus!