How does Luke 24:21 reveal the disciples' misunderstanding of Jesus' mission?

Luke 24:21: “But we had hoped that He was the One who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, this is the third day since these things happened.”

The conversational exchange on the Emmaus road lets us glimpse the disciples’ hearts. Their words reveal how they wrestled with shattered expectations and missed the bigger picture of Jesus’ mission.

Understanding the Setting

- Cleopas and another disciple are walking away from Jerusalem on Resurrection Sunday, discussing the crucifixion and reports of an empty tomb (Luke 24:13-24).

- Jesus Himself draws near, but their eyes are “kept from recognizing Him” (v. 16).

- When Jesus asks what has happened, they sum it up with the statement in verse 21.

What They Expected

- Political liberation. “Redeem Israel” carried overtones of overthrowing Roman rule and restoring David’s kingdom (cf. Acts 1:6).

- Immediate national glory. They anticipated Messianic splendor now—visible power, prosperity, and Israel exalted among the nations (Isaiah 9:6-7; Amos 9:11-15).

- Earth-centered hope. The focus was on present circumstances more than on sin’s bondage or eternal redemption.

Where They Misunderstood

- Ignoring the Suffering Servant prophecies (Isaiah 53:3-12; Psalm 22). They saw glory, not the cross.

- Forgetting Jesus’ own words. Christ had plainly predicted His death and resurrection (Luke 9:22; 18:31-33).

- Measuring God’s timetable by their own. “It is the third day” sounds resigned, as though time had run out on their hopes. They didn’t grasp that the third day was precisely when victory would dawn (Hosea 6:2; Matthew 12:40).

Jesus’ True Mission Explained

- Spiritual redemption first. “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?” (Luke 24:26).

- Fulfillment of all Scripture. Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He showed how everything pointed to Him (v. 27).

- Defeat of sin, death, and the devil (Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 Peter 2:24). Political liberation will come in the future kingdom, but the cross secured the deeper freedom every soul needs.

Key Takeaways for Us

- God’s plans are larger than our immediate desires. We may focus on temporal relief; He aims at eternal rescue.

- Scripture—not human expectation—must shape our view of Christ’s work.

- When hopes seem dashed, look again at the empty tomb. Resurrection power often works where we least expect it (Ephesians 1:18-20).