McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1914-04-10

hLoooN 1EAJ-l@uKe Zf.13-oo.
GOLDEN TEXT-"Who is he that shall
condemn? 1t is Christ Jesus that died
yea rather, that was raised from tn,
dead, who is at the right hand OF God
who also maketh in:ercession for u.s.
Rom. S:34.
We turn aside today to consider as
the Easter lesson a well-known event
In connection with the several appear
ances of our Lord after his resurrec
ton; one of the many infallible
proofs, Acts 1:3; l Cor. 1854. The
narrative of this journey is one OF
the most beautiful post-resurrection
stories, simple, clear and of great
value. 1t is related, evidently, by an
eye witness. The Cleopas mentioned
is not the son of Mary, John 1925.
The name of the second pilgrim is but
a conjecture, though we somehow feel
1t was Luke himself. The journey
was about seven and one-half miles
and most likely they were returning
to their homes after the Passover.
Somewhere on the way a stranger
joined them who asked the nature Of
their conversation, and the cause Of
their evident sadness ". ~. In
establishment, Cleopas answers, but
the stranger continues and adroitly
draws out their entire story.
interesting Progression.
!. Their Disappointment, w. 1924.
II is all too evident that they did not
expect resurrection and that, filled
with perplexity and encouragement
they were ON the verge of despair. 1t
is interesting in this lesson to observe
the progression (1) "and they talked"
v. IA; (2) land they found not" v.
20; go land they saw not" v. "a;
(4 land they constrained him. ".
20; 90 land they knew him." v. 81;
(6) land they said the Lord
Is risen," Wv. 80, "a; (7) "and they
told" V. "a. AS they talked" it was
revealed that their loving hearts we're
full Of sadness and empty of faith, yet
to talk is often the only way to find
relief from the gnawing Of grief
There seem ". Is r. W to have
been two opinions and in their SLOW
ness of heart and unbelief they did
not recognize their new companion. In
response to his query they told how
this Jesus had been delivered, con-
demned, crucified, and then revealed
that this was to them the end of all
things, for said they, 1--WE had hoped
that 1t was he" Are we willing he
should have part In our every CONVEX
sation? Continuing they told the
amazing tale related by the women
and, moreover that their statement
Of an empty tomb had been verified
by certain women who had gone to In
vestigate, but, In conclusion, they
again reverted to their sadness by
saying "They found his body" and
moreover. Him they saw not" Such
mystery, such disappointment was too
great. Still there was trace of faith
In that he was still to
hem "a prophet mighty In word and
Iced" but he was not Christ the son
IF the living God. The trouble was
hey we're expecting a man ". 21),
and to remove the man meant to re-
move all hope. His death was mys.
cry and not necessarily part of the
work Of redemption and thereby
proof Of his being the Redeemer of
srael. They must have remembered
lis words ". 21). yet three days are
low past and still they had not seen
lin. The report Of the women was
% them only an idle tale duke
'4:11), still 1t was incomprehensibl'
hat Him they found not"
Cause of Sadness.
u. His Appointment, w. 1885.
Evidently the journey was continued
md he gently rebukes them for their
lowness of heart to believe the rec
'rd Of their own prophets. All sad
less, practically, arises from unbe-
lief in the Word of God, Phil. AS. Z;
tom. S:2S-32. He interpreted to them
he true Messianic teaching of their |
wn scriptures. He charges them with
oily not to believe "aIl" Of the record
v. 25). True wisdom Is not that of |
kepticism which cuts out portions
I the word, but, according to Jesus,
consists in believing all of the
scriptures. At last they reach EN-
naus, still, let us remember, not
who it is walking with them.
he road beyond was dangerous and
they constrained him" to accept their
ospitality. AS he sat at the table
artaking of the ordinary evening
zeal, he assumed the place of the
ost, took the bread, blessed it and
roke it. Instantly those old familiar
cts and words revealed to them who
was that had walked by the way. In
lat moment they knew him, and i'm
lediately he vanished. As one awak-
ming from a dream they seem to
ave had a vague realization and to
ave known nothing Of any fear, but
ow with new gladness In their
carts at the verify and reality Of
lings they fastened back to Jerusa-
m where they told what things
ere done in the way and how he
as known of them In breaking of
read" v. 35.
III. Teaching Points. This nara
We is 30 full of teaching and yet
, clear and simple that 1t is hard to
lggest any ordinary deductions
erefrnm. The story does, however,
veal the interest of the risen Lord
the doubt of these two disciples.
hat they were probably not of the
velve is evident by the fact that
hen they returned to Jerusalem they
und the eleven assembled ". 33).