Luke 24:13-35
On the Road to Emmaus That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, 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 from 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 and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “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. |
Burning Passion
News had spread all over Jerusalem that the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth, who had been condemned to death and crucified, was now empty on Sunday morning. Witnesses of the empty grave saw angels who claimed He was alive. As the day unfolded, two apostles were travelling the seven-mile journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus. As they travelled, they talked about the events that had taken place. On the way another traveller joined them. Unknown to them, the other traveller was Jesus. For seven miles, Jesus unpacked the Scriptures to them. Starting from Moses through the prophets, Jesus interpreted all the Scriptures that pointed to Himself.
As they drew near to the village, the apostles pleaded with Him to come and stay with them. As they sat down to eat, Jesus broke bread and the apostles’ eyes were opened, and they recognised it was the risen King Jesus. ‘They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?”’ Blown away by encounter, they make the seven-mile journey back to Jerusalem to tell that Jesus was alive.
This is arguably the greatest 14-mile journey ever recorded. I’d have loved to have been there. However, we do have the full canon of scripture where we can read of these events. But how often do our hearts burn within us as we read these same Scriptures Jesus unpacked? How often are our hearts on fire as the Saviour leaps off every page in the Bible? How much of a burning passion do we have for the risen King Jesus? Is it only on Easter Sunday? Or is it also on the other 364 days of the year?
Paul M