The Southern indicator. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1903-1925, 1914-04-11
INTERNATIONAL,
SUNl4X'SCnO0L
LESSON
(By f. Q. SELLERS. Director Of Evening
Department, The Moody Bible Institute,
ChicnEo.)
LESSON FOR APRIL IL
THE JOURNEY TO EMMAUS,
{EaSter Iesson.)

{EaSter Lesson.)
LESSON TE-%r-Iuke 2I:13-35
GOLDEN TENT-"Who Is he that shall
condemn? 1t Is Christ Jesus that died.
yea rather, that was raised from tho
dead. who Is Mt the right hand of God.
who also nlakcth in:erccssion for u.s."
Rom. S:34.
We turn aside today to consider as
the Easter lesson a well-known event
I in connection with tho several appear
ances Of our Lord after his resurrec-
ton: one Of the many infallible
proofs, Acts 1:3; Cor. 1854. The
narrative Of this journey is one of
tho most beautiful postresurrection
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.
Tho nanto Of the second pilgrim is but
a conjecture, though we somehow feel
1t was Luke himself. The journey
was about seven and one-ha1f miles
and most likely they were returning
to their homes after the Passover.
Somewhere on tho way q stranger
Joined them who asked the nature Of
their conversation. and the cause Of
their evident sadness w. ~. In
astonishnlent. Cleopas answers, but
the stranger continues and adroitly
draws out their entiro story.
Interesting Progression.
I. Their Disappointment, w. 1924.
1t is all too evident that they did not
expect n resurrection and that, filled
with perpleXity and encouragement
thcy were on tho verge Of despair. 1t
is interesting in this lesson to observe
the progression iD "and they talked"
V. II: (2) "and they found not" v.
%; (3) "and they saw not" v. "a;
(4) land they constrained him." v.
20; (5) land they knew him." v. 81:
CO. "and they said the Lord
is riscn," Wv. 80, 81; (7) "and they
told" v. 81. 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 unbelicf they did
not recognize their new companion. In
response to his query they told how
this Jesus had been delivered, con-
dcmncd, crucified, and then revealed
that this was to them the end Of all
things, for said they, 1--WE had hoped
that it was he." Are we willing he
should have part in our every conver-
sation: Continuing they told tho
amazing tale related by the women
and, moreover that their statement
NJ f1y hoI Ha1
by certain women who had gone to in.
vestigate, but, in conclusion. they
again reverted to their sadness by
saying They found his body"
Cause OF Sadness.
II. His Appointment, w. 25.35.
Evidently the journey was continued
and he gently rebules 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, 7;
Rom. S:2S32. He interpreted to them
the true NIessianic teaching Of their
own scriptures. lie charges them with
folly not to believe "aIl" OF the record
(v. 25). Truo wisdom is not that OF
skepticism which cuts out portions
Of the word, but, according to Jesus,
it consists in believing all Of tho
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 tho 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.
III. Teaching Points. This nara
tive is SO full OF teaching and yet
so clear and simple that it is hard 10
suggest any ordinary deductions
therefrom. The story does, however,
reveal the interest Of tho risen Lord
In the doubt Of these two disciples.
That they were probably not Of the
twelve is evident by tho fact that
when they returned to Jerusalem they
found the eleven assembled (v. 33).
Thus we sec him going tc these out
side OF that inner circle, also, two who
loved him seeking a solution of tho
mystery and consolation for their sad
hearts. First hiding his identity, he
drew from them their story. He
then took them back to their Scrip
lures, with which they must have
been familiar. and revealed to them
that this mystery was according to
those holy writings.
Again the picture Of his disciples
Is interesting. The progress Of de-