The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-04-08

W. 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; n Of the many infallible
proofs, Acts 1:3; I Cor. 1874. The
narrative of this journey is one of
the most beautiful post-resurrection
stories, simple, clear and Of great
value. It 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
vas 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
astonishmeat, Cleopas answers, but
the stranger continues and adroitly
draws out their entire story.
Interesting Progression.
|. 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. 1t
is interesting in this lesson to observe
the progression ~ "and they talked"
v. IA; (2) land they found not" v.
%; (3) "and they saw not" v. "a;
~ "and they constrained him." v.
20; (5) "and they knew him." v. 81;
CO. "and they said . the Lord
is risen," w. 80, 81; G) land 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, c%rucifed, 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" n
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
Decd" but he was not Christ the son
Of the living God. The trouble was
they were expecting a man ". 21),
and to remove the man meant to re-
move all hope. His death was a mys-
terry and not necessarily a 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
24:11), istill it was incomprehensible
that Him they found not"
Cause of Sadness.
II. His Appointment, wv. 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. AS, Z;
Rom. 8:2S-32. 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
skepticism 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 1t and
broke it. Instantly those old familiar
acts and words revealed to them who
II was that had walked by the way. In
that moment they knew him, and I'M
mediately he vanished. AS m aWak-
ening from a dream they seem TO
have had a vague realization and to
have known nothing of any fear, but
now with a new %gladness in their
hearts at the verify and reality OF
things they fastened back to Jerusa-
lem where they told what things
we're done in the way and how ne
was known of them in breaking Of
bread" v. IS.
III. Teaching Points. This nara
tive Is so full Of teaching and yet
so clear and simple that it is hard to
suggest any ordinary deductions
therefrom. The story does, however,
reveal the interest of the risen Lord
in the doubt of these two disciples.
That they were probably not of the