Let me tell you a story...
On the day of Jesus’ resurrection, two of His disciples (Cleopas and an unnamed companion) leave Jerusalem for the seven-mile journey west to the village of Emmaus. They are a bit downcast in their conversation on the road. Despite hearing from other disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead, they did not see it with their own eyes.
Suddenly, a “stranger” approaches and asks about their discussion. Somewhat astonished that the stranger had not heard the news, they explain the events surrounding Jesus. The stranger listens, then challenges their lack of faith—recounting the prophetic evidence of Christ in the scriptures. Curious, they invite the stranger to continue with them to Emmaus.
There, sitting at a meal, the stranger breaks bread with the two disciples and suddenly they recognize Him as Jesus. Before they are able to respond, Jesus disappears, to which they exclaim, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (v. 32). They quickly return to Jerusalem to confirm the great news.
Here are several points of encouragement in the story:
· Don’t give up too soon. Had the disciples simply stayed a few hours longer in Jerusalem they would have encountered the risen Christ. Sometimes we need to be patient in waiting for the Lord to reveal Himself in our circumstances. (2 Chron. 15:7; Matt. 7:7-8; Luke 18:1; Gal. 6:9; 1 Cor. 9:24; Hebrews 11:6)
· If we do happen to “give up” too soon,, He comes searching for us. Jesus could have let the two disciples continue their journey, and their discouragement, without any intervention. Yet, in their need He came alongside. (Ezek. 34:11, 16; Matt. 18:12; Luke 19:10)
· The Living Word (Jesus) revealed Himself in the written word (the Bible). This is a central tenet of a biblical worldview: We encounter and comprehend the Living Word as we engage the written word, and in engaging the written word we encounter and comprehend the Living Word—it’s a cyclical and ever-growing journey. (Luke 24:27; Rom. 10:17; 2 Cor. 3:15-16.
· Jesus accepted their invitation to stay with them. The Lord knocks at the door of our life and comes into our “house” to commune with us as we invite Him. An invitation for God to dwell with us is always life changing. (Luke 7:36-39, 10:38; 24:29; Rev. 3:20)
· We fully recognize Jesus as the Christ when we fully accept His sacrifice for us. The disciples recognize Jesus as He breaks bread—a symbol of His brokenness for our sins on the cross, which is the master key of God’s kingdom. (John 3:16; Mark 15:17; Rom. 5:8; 1 Cor. 11:24, 18:18; 1 Pet. 3:18; 1 John 2:2)
· When we truly recognize Jesus as the Christ, we naturally become witnesses for Him. Upon recognition of Jesus, the disciples immediately went back to Jerusalem to encourage others. And so it is when we possess a biblical worldview—we cannot remain silent about the Gospel! (Matt. 28:18-20; John 4:39; Acts 1:8, 2:14-41; Rom. 10:14-17)
Don't give up. Keep going.
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