There are eight meal scenes in the story of Luke. The seventh one was what we traditionally call the Last Supper. The eighth one was on the day of resurrection with the husband and wife that Jesus met on the Road to Emmaus.
Think of the first meal in the Garden. The moment is heavy with significance. “The woman took some of the fruit, and ate it, she gave it to her husband, and he ate it; then the eyes of the both were opened, and they knew that they were naked (Gen 3.6-7). This first meal of the new creation was celebrated with a male and female. One shouldn’t pass to quickly by in the reading of the Luke 24 text without noticing the echoes of the first meal in the Garden. Describing the first meal of the new creation, Luke says, “He took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, then the eyes of them both were opened, and they recognized him” (Luke 24.31).
The first couple’s eyes were opened and they saw themselves naked. At the beginning of the new creation, this couple’s eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus. They recognized him in the breaking of the bread.
If you have an opportunity to receive communion as you celebrate the Resurrection, the beginning of the new creation in this present evil age, do so and let you eyes be opened to all the new creation in Jesus offers. It’s a story worth living in.
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Thanks for sharing this Winn. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the suggestion that the two disciples on the road to Emmaus were a married couple. What a profound counterpoint to the orchard meal when our chapters in the story had only just started.
This is a great insight into the powerful symbols and types and showdows in the story, and how it is truly one long story about God intention to redeem and bring us into relationship with themselves, The Godhead three in one! Thankyou Lord Amen!
Keith, I own the insight of the “couple” to Tom Wright.
Bill, truly a story worth the time and effort to discover and live into.