January 2, 2002
Reading
“They told of the
things that had happened on the road” (35)
Who of has never fantasized walking with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus? What must it have been like to hear the Messiah Himself expound the scriptures concerning Himself? When Jesus met up with them they were sad and discouraged, but He turned their sorrow into joy and their dejection into exultation. What did happen on that road?
“Jesus Himself drew near” (15). What a wonderful truth; in their sorrow and confusion Jesus, the risen Christ, came to them. We know that He is with us and never leaves us, but He has a special ministry to us when we are brought low by sorrow and discouragement. There are times of sorrow and heartbreak when it is difficult to draw near to God, but He is faithful and will draw near to us. Through His Spirit He becomes our Comforter and turns our thoughts back to God.” Jesus Himself drew near and went with them”. Not only did He draw near to them but He walked with them as their Companion. “I will never leave you not forsake you” (Heb: 13:5); “I am with you always” (Matt: 28:20). Even when it does not feel like He is with us, He is. He has promised to never leave us, and we must know this by faith and not feelings. Every step we take on the road of life He takes with us.
“What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” (17). He was concerned about the reason for their sadness. Of course He knew the answer before He asked the question but He wanted them to express it. God, who knows everything including our thoughts and intentions, has provided a way for us to bring our needs and concerns to Him; it is called prayer. It is a part of our human makeup that we need to share with someone that which troubles us. I have heard it said, “Don’t bother God with your puny problems”, but He is interested and wants us to tell Him. Many times that peace that passes understanding floods our heart only after we present our problems to God.
“Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter His glory?” (26). Jesus addressed the cause of their sorrow. His words were not a rebuke but rather a message that the answer to their problem was readily available to them. They were familiar with the writings of the prophets but failed to see in them all those things that applied to the Messiah.
“He expounded to
them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (27). Today we
have the complete revelation of God to mankind and we are personally
responsible to “search the Scriptures” and study them, for they contain
everything God wants us to know regarding eternal life and Jesus Christ (Jn:
When Jesus drew alongside them “their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him” (16). Their sorrow and grief over His death kept them from recognizing Him, for after all, the last time they had seen Him He was a bloody mass of torn flesh. How often our eyes are restrained from knowing the movement of God in our lives. We must keep our eyes focused on Him.
“Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road” (32). How excited we become when a Scripture we have read many times suddenly blesses our heart in a new way. How interesting that their eyes were opened and they knew Him” while He “broke bread with them”. But that’s another story.