Middletown transcript., 1914-04-11

| ton; one Of the many 1nfall1bl
proofs, Acts 1:3; 1 Cor. 1854. Th'
narrative Of this journey is one o
the most beautiful post-resurrectiol
stories, simple, clear and Of grea
value. It is related, evidently, by al
eye witness. The Cleopas mentioned
is not the son Of Mary, John 1925
The name Of the second pilgrim is bu
a conjecture. though we somehow fee
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 ot
their evident sadness ". I'D. II
astonishment, Cleopas answers, bui
the stranger continues and adroitly
draws out their entire story.
Interesting. Progression.
l. Their Disappointment, w. 1924
It is all too evident that they did not
expect a resurrection and that, filled
with perplexity and encouragement
they were on the verge of despair. II
is interesting in this lesson to observe
the progression ~ "and they talked
V. IA; (2) "and they found not" v
%; (S) "and they saw not" v. "a;
(4) "and they constrained him." V.
%; (5) "and they knew him. v. 81;
(6l land fhav soid tho ord
is risen," w. 80, "a; Cd "and they
told" v. "a. AS they talked" it was
revealed that their loving hearts were
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, I'VE had hoped
that It was he." Are we willing he
should have part in our every conver-
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
vastigate, 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 a trace Of faith
remaining In that he was still to
them "a prophet mighty in word and
deed" but he was not Christ the son
Of the living God The trouble was
they were expecting a man ". 2D,
and to remove the man meant to re-
move all hope. His death was a mys-
terry and not necessarily part of the
work of redemption and thereby a
proof of his being the Redeemer of
Israel. They must have remembered
his words ". 21), yet three days are
now past and still they had not seen
him. The report of the women was
to them only an idle tale duke
PAID, still it was incomprehensible
that Him they found not"
Cause of Sadness.
u. His Appointment, w. 25-35.
Evidently the journey was continued
and he gently rebukes them for their
slowness of heart to believe the rec
ord Of their own prophets. All sad
ness, practically, arises from unbe-
lief in the Word of God, Phil. 4:6, Z;
Rom. 8:28S2. He interpreted to them
the true Messianic teaching Of their
own scriptures. He charges them with
folly not to believe "aIl" of the record
". 25). True wisdom is not that of
which cuts out portions
Of the word, but, according to Jesus,
it consists in believing all of the
Scriptures. At last they reach EN-
maus, still, let US remember, not
knowing who it is walking with them.
The road beyond was dangerous and
they constrained him" to accept their
hospitality. AS he sat at the table
partaking of the ordinary evening
meal, he assumed the place Of the
host, took the bread, blessed it and
broke it. Instantly those old familiar |
acts and words revealed to them who |
It was that had walked by the way. In
hat moment they knew him, and i'm |
he vanished. AS one awak-
sning from a dream they seem to
nave had a vague realization and to
nave known nothing of any fear, but
now with new gladness in their
hearts at the verify and reality OF
.hings they hastened back to Jerusas
EN- where "they told what things
we're done in the way and how he
vas known of them in breaking Of
,read," V. 35.
III. Teaching Points. This nara
i've is so full Of teaching and yet
10 clear and simple that it is hard to
uggest any ordinary deductions
herefrom. The story does, however
'eYeal the interest Of the risen Lord
n the doubt of these two disciples.
That they were probably not of the
welve is evident by the fact thai
vhen they returned to Jerusalem they
ound the eleven assembled ". 3S).
thus we see him going to those out
ide of that inner circle, also, two who
owed him seeking a solution Of the
MYSTERY and consolation for their sad
Learts. First hiding his identity, he
lrew from them their story. He
hen took them back to their Scrip
ures, with which they must have
een familiar, and revealed to them
hat this mystery was according to
hose holy writings.