On the Road with Jesus, Romulus, and Buddha

There are two stories in the Gospel of Luke about post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. One is to two disciples as they travel along the road to Emmaus, and the other is to the apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. In the Life of Romulus, written at about the same time as Luke's Gospel, by the Greek writer Plutarch, we have another post-death appearance story, with intriguing similarities.

Evidently there were multiple stories that were told in the first century about heroes who appear to their friends after death while traveling on the road. The heroes' bodies disappear mysteriously after their deaths, and it seems to be their purpose in appearing later on the road to explain why--that they were sent from heaven for a divine purpose as an example to humanity and to establish a holy community. That purpose being fulfilled, they have been called back to their heavenly abode.

The different way that the heroes appear after death is interesting to me. Jesus appears as a stranger, not immediately known to his friends in Luke's gospel account. It is through the hospitality and generosity of breaking bread that he becomes recognizable. But Plutarch describes Romulus as immediately recognizable as a mighty warrior.

Here are the relevant texts:

Excerpt from Gospel of Luke

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

"What things?" he asked.

"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Excerpt from Life of Romulus

Julius Proculus ... presented himself in the forum; and, taking a most sacred oath, protested before them all, that, as he was traveling on the road, he had seen Romulus coming to meet him, looking taller and comelier than ever, dressed in shining and flaming armor; and he, being affrighted at the apparition, said, "Why, O king, or for what purpose have you abandoned us to unjust and wicked surmises, and the whole city to bereavement and endless sorrow?" and that he made answer, "It pleased the gods, O Proculus, that we, who came from them, should remain so long a time amongst men as we did; and, having built a city to be the greatest in the world for empire and glory, should again return to heaven. But farewell; and tell the Romans, that, by the exercise of temperance and fortitude, they shall attain the height of human power; we will be to you the propitious god Quirinus." This seemed credible to the Romans, upon the honesty and oath of the relater, and indeed, too, there mingled with it a certain divine passion, some preternatural influence similar to possession by a divinity; nobody contradicted it, but, laying aside all jealousies and detractions, they prayed to Quirinus and saluted him as a god.

These stories put me in mind of the advice of the iconoclastic ninth-century Buddhist monk Zenji who wrote, "

If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill the Buddha. If you meet the patriarchs or the arhats on your way, kill them too...

Who cares if you saw Jesus or Romulus on the road? What authority does that give you or them?