An Important Resurrection Message

Ever wonder why Jesus visited the two men on the road to Emmaus after he rose? In my imagination, he had an important message to deliver.

 

Friday morning

Golgotha

 

Three men have just stumbled a half mile to the top of a bleak, skull-shaped hill. They’re beaten, exhausted, and bloodied. They’ve been whipped and flogged. One of the three wears a crown of thorns. A crowd has gathered, including several women, distraught and in tears. Some Roman soldiers push the crowd back while others prepare the killing site of the three condemned to die.

 

One of the men clenches his teeth and spits a curse at a soldier. The soldier laughs and then unfurls a quick jab into the man’s mouth with the butt of his sword. Blood pours out, red and thick, similar to the stripes on his back. Another two soldiers shove him face down into the dirt. 

 

His name is Dismas. A ‘violent insurrectionist’ they’ve labeled him. A rebel. He hears the sharp clang of a sledgehammer hitting metal. His partner, Gestas shrieks in ear-piercing agony. Dismas knows the hammer will come for him soon. Between him and Gestas, a third man, the one crowned with thorns, is stretched across his wooden cross. 

 

The man beside him shouldn’t be there, Dismas thinks, it should be another member of his gang, Barabbas. But he’s been set free. This man suffers in his place.

 

Dismas only has a free moment to think before the hammer is upon him. His mind goes to the foiled plan. It was perfectly thought-out and would have surely succeeded. Attack the outpost at night, eliminate some Roman guards, and make off with a supply of weapons and food. The weapons were critical for the next and larger attack. But the assault was thwarted. The Romans were ready and reinforced. His band of thieves were surrounded and captured in seconds. Someone had ratted them out. 

 

The man in the middle howls in pain as his wrists are pierced with spikes. Dismas jerks his head in his direction. Beyond the man he sees Gestas being lifted up, the post landing with a thud in its deep hole. He is filled with fury.

 

In his anger, Dismas spews venom and hatred at the man next to him. “You fool! You could have avoided this!”

 

The man turns to Dismas with compassion. “So could have you, friend,” the man whispers through his agony.

 

Suddenly Dismas thinks of his brother. The conversations. The invitations. His brother had pleaded with him several times to leave his life of rebellion and follow a rabbi named Jesus. His brother used words like miracles, messiah, and the Kingdom of God. He said that this Jesus was the one of whom Moses and the prophets had spoken. Dismas wanted none of his brother’s delusions. In their last meeting, his brother told how Jesus both gently forgave sins and spoke more powerfully than anyone with a sword or spear could ever hope to. Dismas released him with a wave of his hand. He had an attack to prepare. 

 

The hammer has arrived. The spike shatters bone as it slices through his wrist. The pain feels like lightning coursing through his body. One more in the other wrist and then one in his feet. Seconds later he’s lifted up. He’s about to pass out.

 

From the height of the cross, Dismas scans the crowd for his brother.

 

Of course he’s not here, Dismas thinks. He’s scattered like all the others. 

 

The sky is darkening. The wind is picking up. Dismas hears the man in the middle ask for forgiveness for his killers. Those in the crowd, the Jewish rulers, and the soldiers themselves take this as their cue to sneer and mock him.

 

And then Gestas joins in. “Aren’t you the Messiah?” He yells at Jesus. “Save yourself and us!”

 

Dismas turns his face away. Then looks toward Gestas. His eyes fixed and intense. He has one last act of defiance. But it’s not for the Romans. It’s for his old friend. “Don’t you fear God?” he yelled. “Since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.” He looks at the man next to him. “But this man has done nothing wrong!”

 

Then his insolence melts to surrender. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

 

Dismas watches as Jesus turns slowly toward him. “Truly I tell you, today, … .”

 

The words feel like cool water washing over him. His eyes close. For a moment he can’t feel any pain. Only peace. And then he thinks again of his brother.

 

 

Sunday

On the road

 

Three men are completing a seven-mile journey along the dusty path from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Two of the men Cleopas and his cousin Jude, are dejected, hopeless, and afraid. They’ve been emotionally beaten and shattered. Their spirits are crushed. 

 

The third man had joined them mid-walk. He asked what they had been discussing. Cleopas, his face downcast, explained about the death of their long-hoped-for redeemer and his now empty tomb. The new journeyman wasn’t moved by their sorrow. Instead, beginning with Moses and the prophets he explained to them what was in all the scriptures concerning the Messiah.

 

They reached the village at nightfall and so Cleopas invited the third man to stay in his home. They reclined around the table, while a light meal was prepared. 

 

Cleopas still couldn’t shake his grief. His guest then spoke up. “Friend, what troubles you? Has not our discussion brought you some peace?”

 

“Yes and thank you for your wisdom. But there’s more. My brother was also executed. On a cross, next to our rabbi, Jesus.”

 

The man looked at Cleopas with deep compassion. He was about to say something when the food arrived. “I have a word for you, but first we must give thanks for this meal.”

 

As Jesus broke the bread, suddenly both men recognized Jesus. They jumped up and exclaimed with joy, “Rabbi, it is you!” They ran to Jesus, hugging him, nearly lifting him off of his feet. 

 

After a few joyous moments, Jesus said that he needed to depart. “But before I do, Cleopas, you must know something.” He pulled Cleopas toward him, placing his hand firmly on his shoulders. 

 

“Yes, Rabbi.”

 

“It’s about your brother. Your eyes are not the only pair to be opened. Up there, with me, he knew who I am.”

 

“What are you saying, Rabbi?”

 

“Cleopas, truly I tell you. Dismas believed! You have nothing to be sad about. As surely as I am alive before you, because he believed, he is not dead. He is in paradise!

 

Then, without another word, Jesus disappeared from their sight.

 

Cleopas and Jude stared, dumbfounded, at each other. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road?”

 

“What does this mean?” Jude asked.

 

“It means …” Cleopas answered. “… That we’re going back to Jerusalem!”

 

They quickly hurried out the door. With Jude ahead of him, Cleopas paused and thought of his brother with a smile.