Recognising the Risen Lord Through Scriptures: The Apostle Paul as an Ideal Match for the Two Disciples on the Way to Emmaus in Luke 24:13–35
Abstract
In the concluding chapter of his gospel, Luke culminates the “Journey to Jerusalem” with Jesus accompanying his followers on a journey not defined by geographical or chronological elements, but rather one immersed in discipleship. In the sequel to that journey to Jerusalem, the one to Emmaus, Jesus accompanies two disciples: Cleopas and an intentionally undisclosed follower (see 24:13, 18). The end of this journey, emblematic of faith in the suffering, crucified and risen Lord reaches its zenith in the two disciples recognising Jesus in the breaking of the bread. The moment Jesus disappears from their sight (24:31) elicits a reaction demonstrating the potentiality of discerning the Risen Lord even in the “opening of the Scriptures” (24:32). This study endeavours to analyse the recognition of Jesus the Lord in the specific mystery of his death and resurrection through the opening of Scriptures as exemplified by the Apostle to the Gentiles. In this vein, Paul emerges as a speculative yet paradigmatic correlate to the unnamed second disciple. Similar to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, Paul too travelled the journey of recognising the Risen Lord, transitioning from a zealous persecutor of the adherents of Jesus of Nazareth and his message (see Acts 9:1–4; 22:7; 1 Cor 15:9), which had a decisive and definitive turn in the Christophany on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9; 22; 26), to an apostle in complete acknowledgement of Jesus as “Lord” (see Acts 9:5; Phil 2:11; Rom 10:12), and even to a believer “who has been crucified with Christ” (see Gal 2:19). Analogously to the two disciples, Paul too went through the same developmental milestones as the two disciples, with Jesus, as it were, walking alongside him, elucidating the Scriptures—from perceiving Jesus as “the accursed crucified criminal” (see Deut 21:22–23) to affirming “Jesus is alive” (1 Cor 15:17–28) and proclaiming that “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that ‘Jesus Christ is Lord’” (Kyrios Iēsous Christòs)” (Phil 2:11). This trajectory renders conceivable for all adherents to Jesus of all times the possibility to decipher the scriptural depictions of the Lord articulated by Moses, the Prophets, and the Scriptures (Luke 24:27, 44).
Keywords:
disciples of Emmaus, Paul, crucifixion, Risen Lord, transformation, imitationReferences
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University of Malta
Rev. Prof. Paul Sciberras completed specialisation in Scripture Studies (SSL) at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome in 1992, and confirmed Candidatus ad Doctoratum in 1994, after finishing the preparatory year for the Doctorate in Scripture Sciences. Starting in 1995, he commenced his teaching role at the University of Malta’s Faculty of Theology, within the Department of Sacred Scriptures, Hebrew, and Greek, mainly in New Testament areas, including Synoptic Gospels, Pauline Letters, Acts of the Apostles, Language and Text of the New Testament, as well as NT Exegesis at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
In 2011, he attained his Doctorate in Sacred Theology (SThD). From 2013 to 2021, he held the position of Head of the Department of Sacred Scripture, Hebrew, and Greek. He was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2016, and he has held the title of Associate Professor since 2020. Additionally, he took on the role of Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Theology the following year.
He actively contributed to various projects. He is co-editor of the Maltese Bible in Braille and served as a biblical consultant for the Christmas Story in Maltese Sign Language. He oversaw the editing process of the 5th Edition of the Bible in Maltese, published by the Malta Bible Society in 2020. He is also a member of the Commission for the Revision of the Bible in Maltese and the Doctrinal Commission of the Maltese Episcopal Conference.
Fields of interest
New Testament exegesis; Biblical hermeneutics; the Synoptic Gospels; Paul’s contribution to Christianity; Bible translation in general, with particular focus on Bible translation into Maltese.
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