Democratic messenger., 1904-04-09

concerning Christ. and not until he ex-
planned them did they perceive that
the events which had sn puzzled and
distressed them were precisely those
which had been predicted centuries be-
fore. Ii came aS "A right visual per-
speciive To those whose eyes were TO-
ctse,i too far OF 10 props rly appreciate
the eternal Significance Of the momen-
tous events which had ust happened.
What had the death AMI the horrible
crucitxion of their dear friend and
leader. .ics's'. TO do with the Messianic
prophecy Of Isaiah. written hundreds
of years before: Did the words He
Is brought as u lamb to the slaughter
imply the occurrence of such a nation
al tragedy as that JUS ended? Per
haps these men did not stop to con-
slider or think. bid the words of their
Saviour. Destroy this temple. and l
will raise il up." allu,le to the resur-
rection of Christ's own body? Perhaps
these disciples did not know or con-
slider or think. But when on the En-
malis road the stranger appeared and
said unto them. 20 fools and slow of
heart To believe all that the prophets
have spoken" and then. beginning lat
Moses and all the prophets. he ex-
pounded unto them in all the Scrip
lures the things concerning himself"
then they saw. then they knew. that il
mad been foreseen that Jesus should
rise from the dead.
FulHIlment of Prophecies.
Have there not been in our own lives
and in the lives of our dear ones proph-
find their fulfillment in the risen
Christ: How about that fulfilled
prophecy in your mothers life? Years
ago she marked the favorite psalm OF
Martin Luther as her special comfort.
In the quiet Of her own room she used
to read over and over again these
words: God is our refuge and strength.
very present help in trouble. There
fore will not we fear. though the earth
he removed and though the mountains
be carried into the midst of the sea"
When your father WAS taken sick and
financial trouble came. and from an
earthly standpoint your mother had
nowhere To turn. did not that Forty
sixth Psalm come truc: Was not the
gospel prophecy fulfilled in God being
her refuge and strength? When your
invalid sister died. what was the
strange peace that remained with her
on her way TO the grave: Did she
want To leave her young husband and
baby boy: Did she turn Il deaf ear to
the sobs that We're being sounded
about her dying bed: oh. no! She
was as Il Christian at peace because
thousands of years ago God had prom
ised. The mountains shall depart and
the hills he removed. but my loving
Kindness shall not depart from thee
neither shall the covenants OF my
peace he removed. saith the Lord that
hath mercy on thee How have Gods
promises been fulfilled in your own
life: Have not all your past troubles
been the means. through the influence
Of the Holy Spirit. of working together
for yoiIr good: Christ was the fulfill
ment of prophecy in the Emmaus reve-
latiun. Christ is also the fulfillment of
prophecy in our own lives.
Despair Changed To Hope.
Eut again | learn from these Easter
afternoon lessons that Christ only ap-
pearel unto his disciples when they
felt their own helplcssncss without his
divine presence AMI sustenance. IL
these men. walking along that En-
n
We'll. Jesus is dead; perhaps il is just
as we'll that he is gone: we were fol-
lowing him too much anyhow: we
can get along now perhaps better with
ont him than with him.. Jesus would
never have revealed himself unto
them Hut what did these two men
practically say: They said: oh. what
shall we do. what shall we do! The
Christ upon whom we have leaned.
the Christ whom We have followed.
the Christ whose words have been our
meat and strength 10y day and by
night. is gone. What shall we do: What
shall we do:" Let me read 10 YOU their
Very words. When this stranger ac-
coSted the two disciples they told To
him their story. Then in a despairing
tone they said. We trusted that it
had been he who should have re-
deemed Israel" Yes: we trusted
but now all their hope was gone. They
We're hopeless without Christ. But
when Christ revealed himself then
their despair was changed into trium-
plant hope.
My friend. on this hillside overlook
ing the little Emmaus village do you
feel helpless unless you have Christ:
10 you pin to him all your faith both
for this world and the next: II you do
Christ will reveal himself TO you. II
you do not he will never reveal him
self In your Easter hopes | want you
To feel the absolute dependence upon
the divine power which my pious an
cestor did many years ago. Rev. Ma
than Bir,lseyc was among the most ia
NOUS New England divines of his day
lie lived In Connecticut and was not
only very wealthy. but lived also in
the time when the people of New Eng