They had not advanced far on their journey when they were joined by a stranger, but they were so absorbed in their gloom and disappointment that they did not observe him closely. They continued their conversation, expressing the thoughts of their hearts. They were reasoning in regard to the lessons that Christ had given, which they seemed unable to comprehend. As they talked of the events that had taken place, Jesus longed to comfort them. He had seen their grief; He understood the conflicting, perplexing ideas that brought to their minds the thought, 796 Can this Man, who suffered Himself to be so humiliated, be the Christ? Their grief could not be restrained, and they wept. Jesus knew that their hearts were bound up with Him in love, and He longed to wipe away their tears, and fill them with joy and gladness. But He must first give them lessons they would never forget.

De var ikke nået ret langt frem på deres vandring, da en fremmed sluttede sig til dem, men de var så fordybede i deres tungsindighed og skuffelse, at de ikke lagde særligt mærke til ham. De blev ved med at tale sammen og gav udtryk for deres hjertes tanker. De anstillede betragtninger over de lærdomme, Kristus havde givet, men som de ikke syntes at være i stand til at forstå. Medens de talte om de begivenheder, der havde fundet sted, længtes Jesus efter at trøste dem. Han havde set deres sorg; han forstod de modstridende og tvivlende tanker, der fik dem til at tænke således: Kan denne mand, der fandt sig i at blive ydmyget i den grad, virkelig være Kristus? De kunne ikke beherske deres sorg, og de græd. Jesus vidste, at deres hjerter var uløseligt forbundne med ham i kærlighed, og han længtes efter at tørre deres tårer bort og fylde dem med glæde og fryd. Men først måtte han lære dem noget, som de aldrig ville glemme.