Cleopas and his companion were on their way back home from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Suddenly a stranger walked with them.  They told Him about the death of Jesus and the rumors of His resurrection from the dead.  Had he not heard these things?  They invited this stranger to eat with them.  It was the hospitable  thing to do. 

As they were eating, this stranger took the bread and blessed it.  Luke (25:31) says their eyes were opened.  His words suddenly became” alive and burned within them!”  They had a spiritual awakening.  Then…. suddenly He was gone. They knew this was Jesus, who had been crucified and yet He was alive!

Although the sun had set, the two men were determined to return to Jerusalem to tell Peter and the other disciples. Jesus indeed has risen and had supped with them!! 

The two men did not reach the city until after dark. The disciples and others were gathered in a “safe” house.  The doors were shut for fear of the authorities.  Perhaps they too could be convicted as being part of the conspiracy to cause rebellion. Isn’t that how they framed Jesus? He was declared to be a King?  The Romans were always fearful of rebellion of these Jews. This Jesus was called King of the Jews. The followers could cause trouble. 

The two men pounded on the door.  “Let us in……We have seen the risen Lord.  He is alive!!  Mark tells us that they were talking about these things, when the Lord miraculously appears and spoke to them. However, Thomas was not there. 

When the disciples told Thomas about the Lord’s appearing, Thomas doubted their words……” Unless I can see for myself, I can’t believe.”  Surely it was only His spirit that they had seen and not the real Messiah himself.  Dead men don’t rise, do they? 

In the book of John we are told Jesus appeared another time and Thomas was there.  The Lord told Thomas to touch His hands and His feet.  “See its’s really me!” Thomas, falling down before Him, made one the of the most profound statements of faith in all of Scripture. “My Lord and My God.! Thomas needed to see and touch. Seeing is believing that is true, However, the Master said to us.

                  “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. “