Jesus' Seventh Appearance 

At five o’clock on Sunday, April 9, 30 CE, about thirty minutes after his sixth appearance, two brothers were on their way home from Jerusalem where they had spent Passover week. As shepherds who lived in Emmaus, Cleopas half-believed in Jesus, but his brother, Jacob, was not a believer but was interested in things he had heard about Jesus.

The two brothers were nearly halfway home on this Sunday afternoon. As they walked, they were talking about Jesus; the things he taught, the work he was doing. But most of all, they were talking about the rumors that they had heard about the tomb that he had been buried in being empty and how certain women were claiming that they had spoken to him. Cleopas wanted to believe these reports, but Jacob thought the whole thing was just a hoax. Jesus, in his seventh appearance since his resurrection, came up alongside the brothers and began walking along with them. Neither of the brothers recognized Jesus when he began talking with them, even though Cleopas had seen him when he was teaching and had even shared meals with him in Jerusalem.

Jesus asked them what they had been talking about. This caused them to stand still and look at the Master with amazement. They asked him if it was possible that he didn’t know about the things that had been going on in Jerusalem. Jesus said: "What things?" Cleopas went on to relate to the Master how this man Jesus, who was supposedly a great prophet, had been crucified by order of the priests and rulers. He told Jesus that many people had thought and hoped that this prophet was the promised Messiah. And now, on the third day since his crucifixion, some women were reporting that they saw his tomb empty and that they had talked with Jesus. They are saying that Jesus has resurrected from the dead. Two of this man’s apostles went to see, and they also found the tomb empty, but they did not see Jesus like the women had.

Jesus told the brothers that he could help them understand since he knew quite a bit about this man Jesus and his teachings. The Master then launched into a lengthy statement outlining all of his teachings: teachings about the kingdom, the truth of sonship with God and spiritual brotherhood with all mankind, and the teachings about salvation for all men given by a loving God. He asked them if they remembered how Jesus had ministered to the sick and liberated those who were fearful. He reminded them how this man had foretold his own death and resurrection.

As they continued walking, Jesus then reiterated the many promises found in Scripture that this man fulfilled as the Deliverer. He asked if they understood how remarkable the gospel that this man preached was, and how great the salvation was that this man had brought to them.

By this time, the three had come close to Emmaus where the brothers lived. They had not said a word since Jesus had begun teaching them; but now, they came to their humble dwelling. It looked as if Jesus was going to go on alone, but since night was closing in, the brothers asked him to come home with them so he could rest and have something to eat. He said that he would, and so they all went into the house and sat down at the table. They gave the Master the bread so he could bless it; and as he began to break the bread and hand it to them, the brothers’ eyes were opened. Cleopas suddenly recognized that their guest was the Master himself. He exclaimed: "It is the Master—" And just then, Jesus vanished from their sight.

The brothers said to each other: "No wonder our hearts burned within us as he spoke to us while we walked along the road! And while he opened up to our understanding of the teachings of the Scripture!" At this point, they could not stop to eat. They ran back to Jerusalem to share the news that they had seen the risen Jesus.

At nine o’clock that night, the brothers had reached Jerusalem and they went to the upper room where the ten apostles were gathered. They excitedly related that they had seen and talked with Jesus. They told the apostles what Jesus had said and how they didn’t even know who he was until they had sat down to eat, and the Master broke the bread.

Interestingly, the two brothers shared their story with the apostles after Peter had experienced Jesus' eighth resurrection appearance at 8:30 pm, thirty minutes earlier, and Peter had shared his experience with the other apostles in the upper chamber before Cleopus and Jacob had arrived.