“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?'” (Luke 24:32 NIV84)

I just love this encounter between Jesus and the disciples on the way to Emmaus. Here we have Jesus appearing (but hiding His identity) to a couple of disciples who are on their way home, dejected and down. This is the kind of Savior I need. I need one who will pursue me when I am too stubborn or ignorant to pursue Him. Jesus met these men on the road because He loved them. He wanted to make sure they could share in the joy of the resurrection. So, Jesus asked them what they were talking about. One of them turned to Jesus and asked Him whether He was the only person in Jerusalem who didn’t know what was going on the last few days. How ironic! To ask Jesus whether He was clueless to what was going on the last few days when in fact Jesus was the only one who truly knew all that had transpired in those days. Jesus kept the questioning going. He asked them, “What things?” They responded that their Master Jesus (a great prophet) was crucified, His tomb was found empty, and they were at a loss as to what was going on.

Note Jesus’ response: “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?” Jesus didn’t say, “Hey! Here I am!” He referred them back to the Scriptures. And beginning with Moses, Jesus took them through the entire Scripture and explained that the Messiah had to be crucified to pay for the sins of humanity and had to rise from the dead victoriously on the third day. Let me just say, I wish I had been there to hear Jesus reveal Himself to His disciples through His Word. He first revealed Himself through the Word, then He revealed Himself visibly, and immediately disappeared from their presence. Jesus was telling them, and us, that we are going to have to rely on the Word of God for truth and clarity because He was not always going to be around in a physical way. And how did the disciples respond? “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” It was not their physical recognition of Jesus but their spiritual recognition through the Word of God that moved them to say their hearts burned within them.

Today, may our hearts burn as we meditate on the truths of God’s Word.

Peace!

Pastor Tom

www.firmlyrooted.church