Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk along?" …
Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Lk 24:13-35)
Jesus was very personal in dealing with his disciples and he never forced his way through. When these two were on their way home Jesus also took the same road along with them. He pretended even to go the same way and further on. He listened to their woes and allowed them to talk and express themselves fully. He did not straight away tell them that they were foolish or that they were wrong in their thinking and calculations.
Jesus was very obliging. When the disciples asked him to stay with them he took the chance immediately and stayed with them. Since his main concern was the disciples he was ready to go even that length to please them. He went along with them and he obliged them to make them feel that they were almost right. He let them do as they wished.
He vanished from their sight. As soon as the job was done Jesus was not there anymore. He did not go there to received honours and degrees but to make the disciples realize that the scriptures were fulfilled in Jesus. If he had continued there to be with them then they themselves would have continued in Emmaus. Since Jesus vanished from their sight they ran back to Jerusalem to announce to the other disciples what they had experienced. He walked with them; he obliged them and he revealed to them and then he vanished from them so that they could continue the same mission.
