The testimony of so many different witnesses had not yet convinced the
Apostles: when they had heard that "Jesus was alive, and had been seen
of Mary Magdalene, they believed not. And when the other women came
with their testimony," their words seemed to the Apostles as "idle
tales, and they believed them not."
Still all that they heard was not without some effect; for Peter was
anxious to visit the sepulchre again: "Then arose Peter, and ran unto
the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by
themselves." But he saw nothing more; "and he departed, wondering in
himself at that which was come to pass." We learn from the Scriptures
that Peter was the first of the Apostles who did see the Lord after
His resurrection; but how and when this meeting took place, we are not
told; and it is most likely that it took place now, whilst Peter was
returning from his second visit to the sepulchre, "wondering in
himself at that which was come to pass." What joy it must have been to
Peter, to see that his Lord and Master was indeed alive, and to be
able to receive forgiveness for the sin he had committed, in denying
all knowledge of Him. What passed between our Lord and Peter on this
occasion, is not written down in either of the Gospels; but we may be
sure that Jesus spake kindly and lovingly to Peter. It is no wonder to
find that ever afterwards, Peter devoted himself heartily to the
service of God. After this interview with Peter, Jesus appeared to two
of the disciples, who were not also Apostles: "he appeared in another
form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country." To
Peter, Jesus probably appeared in His own person, so as to be
recognized at once: on the occasion of which we are now to speak, He
concealed Himself under the form of a "stranger." St. Luke tells us,
that two of the disciples went that same day, (the first day of the
week,) to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about
three-score furlongs; that is, about seven miles and a half, for eight
furlongs make a mile. And, very naturally, "they talked together of
all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while
they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went
with them. But their eyes were holden, that they should not know him.
And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that
ye have one with another, and are sad?" Jesus asked not such questions
for His own information, but to enable Him to show the truth to the
disciples, who were surprised that any person, even a stranger, should
be ignorant of the wonderful events which had happened. "And 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? And 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: and how the
Chief Priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death,
and have crucified him. But 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. Yea, and certain women of our
company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; and
when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also
seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And 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." In this account of the
matter, given by these two to a stranger, as they supposed, we see the
state of doubt and perplexity in which all the disciples were: a
little more faith would have set their minds at rest: but it is
evident that though, whilst He lived they had believed Jesus to be the
true Messiah, who should redeem Israel, His death and burial had so
far shaken their belief, that they could not at once feel sure that He
had risen from the dead, though they could not altogether reject that
idea.
When these two disciples had ended their account, they must have been
somewhat surprised at being reproached for their unwillingness to
believe all that their Prophets had spoken concerning the Messiah; for
Jesus, still in His character of a stranger, "said unto them, O fools,
and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken"! And
then He reminded them, that the Scriptures had expressly said, that
Christ must suffer death on earth, before He could enter into glory in
heaven: saying, "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and
to enter into his glory?" that is, ought not these very things which
trouble you to have happened just as they have done, to fulfil the
Scriptures, and to show that this was indeed the promised Messiah.
When Jesus had shown the two disciples that want of faith alone caused
their perplexity, He graciously went on, "and beginning at Moses and
all the prophets, he expounded (or explained) unto them in all the
Scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the
village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone
further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is
toward evening, and the day is far spent." No wonder these disciples,
whose faith must have been strengthened by the explanations of their
unknown companion, were unwilling so soon to part with one so learned
in the Scriptures; and, as it was near evening, they urged Him to go
in and abide with them for the night. At their earnest entreaty, "he
went in to tarry with them." Emmaus, where our Lord now was, was a
village about seven or eight miles to the west of Jerusalem; the
dwelling-place, probably, of the two disciples whose guest He was.
"And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread and
blessed it, and brake, and gave to them." Jesus probably did what He
had done at the last Passover Supper, when He appointed Bread and Wine
to be taken and received, in "continual remembrance of the sacrifice
of the death of Christ, and of the benefits which we receive thereby."
At any rate, by this act, Jesus made Himself known to Cleopas and his
companion: "their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he
vanished out of their sight. And 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?" They had felt great interest
in the conversation and teaching of the stranger, and now they seem
to feel that all he had said should have shown them that One Who thus
taught could be no other than the Lord Himself. Their next thought
was to tell these great and glad tidings to the rest of the
disciples; and though it was drawing towards night, and they had
already had a long walk, "they rose up the same hour, and returned to
Jerusalem,"--setting us a good example not to let any personal
inconvenience prevent us from doing anything that we feel it is our
duty to do. When they reached Jerusalem, they "found the eleven
gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, The Lord is
risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon." Peter had by this time
related how the Lord had spoken to him, and his testimony had
convinced his fellow disciples that their Lord had indeed risen from
the dead. Cleopas and his companion now bore witness to the same
fact, and "told what things were done in the way, and how he was
known of them in breaking of bread." But some of the disciples do not
seem to have been convinced even yet, for St. Mark says of these two,
"they went and told it unto the residue, neither believed they them."
"Then the same day at evening," (nearly 6 o'clock,) still being the
first day of the week, "when the doors were shut where the disciples
were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus: as they thus spake,
Jesus stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto
you." Notwithstanding all that had already past, it seems that the
greater part, at least, of the disciples could not believe that this
was really and truly the Lord, in the same body as He had borne before
His death: "they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they
had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why
do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it
is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and
bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them
his hands and his feet, and his side. Then were the disciples glad
when they saw the Lord."
Doubts, however, still lingered in the minds of some, and these our
Lord graciously condescended to remove; for "while they yet believed
not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and an honeycomb. And he
took it, and did eat before them. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace
be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so I send you. And when
he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye
the Holy Ghost: whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto
them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained."
"Remit" here means _forgive_; sins remitted are sins forgiven. To
"retain" means just the contrary--not forgiven sins; "retained" means
sins that are not forgiven, of which the guilt still rests upon those
who have committed them. Jesus did not, of course, mean that His
Apostles, or any human being, had power to forgive or remit the
smallest sin committed against God; none can forgive sin, but God
only. But our Lord meant, that when, by the teaching of the Apostles,
poor sinners should be brought to believe the Gospel and repent, they,
the Apostles, might safely declare unto them the blessed truth, that
their sins are forgiven, and done away with, for the sake of all that
Jesus Christ has done for us.
But in the same way, the Apostles must warn all who will not believe
and repent, that their sins cannot be forgiven; but that their guilt
remains, and must hereafter meet with due punishment.