So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. Luke 24:28–35 (RSV)
Cleopas and his companion had heard reports of the resurrection but had given up and were going home to Emmaus. Like so many in every age, they could not recognize Lord, even when He was physically with them. Human doubt and uncertainty smothered their faith in Jesus' Word.
Jesus spoke to them of every passage of Scripture that was a witness to Him. No one could have had a more remarkable teacher than they did. Still, they did not realize it was Jesus who was teaching them.
Only as Jesus blessed and broke bread did their eyes see Him as their Risen Lord. Luther rightly teaches that our Lord comes to us in Word and Sacrament. We hear the Word proclaimed, which the Holy Spirit uses to prepare our hearts for every encounter with Jesus.
The Word that dwells fully in the Sacraments brings us to the real presence of our Lord, whose mercy infuses the water of Baptism and gives us His Body and Blood in the Supper.
Daily we remember our Baptism by which we are joined to the death and resurrection of our Lord. We come joyfully to the Supper, where our Lord meets us in His Body and Blood. All His gifts light the fire of faith within us as it did for Cleopas and his companion.