What does Luke 24:35 mean?

The room where the greater number of disciples were staying is abuzz with incredible news: Jesus has risen from the dead! Before the two new arrivals (Luke 24:31–34) can say anything, the disciples enthusiastically tell them Peter has seen the risen Jesus.

The joint news is even more joyous. First, Mary Magdalene and the other women saw Jesus (John 20:14–18; Matthew 28:9–10). Then Peter. Now, Jesus' followers want to hear Cleopas and his friend's story.

They had left after the women's report, thinking it nothing but "an idle tale" (Luke 24:11). While they walked to Emmaus, a stranger joined their conversation. Cleopas told Him how Jesus—the man they thought was the Messiah, come to redeem Israel—had been tortured and crucified. But the women said the tomb was empty and angels told them Jesus had risen (Luke 24:13–24).

The stranger, who had seemed to not know anything about Jesus, then showed them how everything that happened had been prophesied in the Jewish Scriptures (Luke 24:25–27). When the three reached Emmaus, Cleopas and his friend invited the stranger to eat with them. But when the stranger took the bread, blessed it, and gave them pieces, their spiritual blinders came off, and they realized: this is Jesus! Jesus immediately disappeared, and the two men rushed back to Jerusalem (Luke 24:28–33).

Now that they're in Jerusalem, they learn that Peter has seen Jesus, too (Luke 24:34). In moments, the entire group will see Jesus (Luke 24:36).