Citation: Luke 24:13-35, extended (23 verses), unique to Luke. Brief reference at Mark 16:12-13.
The narrative
Setup. Two disciples (Cleopas and an unnamed companion, debated: companion's wife? the disciple Luke himself? someone else?) walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus, a village ~7 miles away, on Resurrection Sunday afternoon. They discuss the recent events. Jesus joins them but they "don't know him" (their eyes are kept from recognizing him).
Conversation. Jesus: "What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?" Cleopas (incredulous): "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things which have happened there in these days?" Jesus: "What things?" They explain:
- Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet mighty in deed and word
- Chief priests and rulers delivered him to death and crucified him
- "We were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel", the past-tense "were hoping" captures their shattered messianic expectations
- Third day now since these things; women came and reported empty tomb and angelic message of resurrection; some went and found tomb empty but didn't see him
- They are processing all this with sadness and confusion
Jesus's response. "Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Didn't the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?" Then, "beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself."
(Luke doesn't preserve the specific OT passages Jesus cited. Reading the rest of Luke and Acts and the NT broadly, the likely texts include Psalms 16 and Psalms 22 and Psalms 110 and Isaiah 53 and Daniel 7 and etc.)
Recognition at the breaking of bread. Arrival at Emmaus. Jesus made to "go further" but they urge him to stay; he goes in. At the meal, "he took the bread and gave thanks. Breaking it, he gave it to them. Their eyes were opened and they recognized him; then he vanished out of their sight."
They reflect. "Weren't our hearts burning within us, while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?"
Return to Jerusalem. Same hour. They find the eleven gathered and their companions saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then the Emmaus pair recount their own experience and how he was recognized in the breaking of bread.
Theological significance
Scripture-exposition as evangelistic method, Jesus's primary post-resurrection-appearance teaching method is OT exposition showing Messianic fulfillment. The early-church and apostolic-preaching pattern (cf. Acts 2 and 13 and 17 and 28) follows this template. Application: Christ-centered reading of OT is post-resurrection-authorized.
Recognition pattern, Jesus is recognized "in the breaking of bread." Eucharistic interpretation (RC and Anglican and Orthodox) sees a sacramental connection. Word-and-table interpretation (most Protestant) sees the connection as scripture-then-meal: word-exposition and table-fellowship together are the means of encountering the risen Christ.
Hidden-then-revealed motif, Jesus's incognito presence and ultimate revelation parallels his earthly-ministry pattern (Messianic identity hidden and gradually revealed) projected into the post-resurrection-life of the church.
Burning hearts, the disciples' retrospective recognition: their hearts burned during the scripture-exposition, even before visual recognition. Mystical-experience reading: presence is real even when unrecognized.
Cleopas's identity, possibly the Cleopas (Κλωπᾶς Klōpas) of John 19:25 ("Mary, wife of Cleopas", at the cross). If so, the unnamed companion might be his wife Mary, a possibility some scholars and church traditions adopt. The possibility is noted here without resolving it.