The stranger explained that Isaiah was talking about the Messiah. The
Messiah was to be humble, and sacrifice himself, like one of the lambs
at the Passover feast. Isaiah meant that the only one who could help
others was the one who was willing to suffer for others. The Messiah
never wanted to be a king like other kings. He did not want to lord it
over others. He wanted to love them, and to give his life for them.

"And so," the stranger went on, "you ought not to be sad, thinking
that Jesus is not the Messiah after all. Jesus has lived and died as
the Scriptures said the Messiah would. His love and his sufferings
prove that he really is the Messiah. And if his believers love one
another, as he has loved them, and sacrifice themselves as he has
done, they will have peace and joy."

As the three walked on, the stranger talked. When they reached Emmaus,
they came to the home of one of the disciples. They said to the
stranger:

"Come in and stay with us. It is evening. The day is nearly over."

They went into the house. Someone lighted the lamps, and food was
placed before them.

The stranger took some bread, and said a prayer of thanks, and broke
the bread.

The disciples had seen something like that before--breaking bread.
They looked up quickly.

Why! This man was not a stranger at all. It was Jesus. They knew him
as they looked into his face. And as they looked, he vanished out of
their sight, and they were alone again.

They said to each other,

"Didn't you have a strange feeling, as he talked to us along the road
and explained the Scriptures?"

Although it was now night, they returned to Jerusalem at once. They
found the other disciples and told their story.

"The Lord is indeed alive!" they said. "We knew him the moment he
broke the bread!"

[Illustration]

While they were speaking, Jesus was suddenly among them once again.
Jesus said,

"Peace be with you."

They were frightened then, but Jesus spoke again.

"Do not be afraid," he said. "I am not a spirit."

They still could hardly believe it. It seemed too good to be true. And
while they stood there, not daring to believe that Jesus was alive, he
said,

"Have you anything here to eat?"

They set a piece of broiled fish before him, and Jesus sat down to
supper.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

One of the disciples was not there when Jesus appeared to the others.
His name was Thomas. And no matter what the others said, Thomas could