Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-04-09

drive away dark
ness and despair, no hope of heaven.
Paul lays great emphasis upon these
vital things in ! Corinthians 15:12I9,
1t is significant that after his resur.
rection Jesus appeared only to his
disciples; and of these, first to those
who needed him most. There is deep
meaning in the very order of the re-
corded appearances after his resurrec
ton First to Mary, probably the
most heart-broken Of all the little
band; then to Peter, who had denied
him, and since then had been weeping
bitter tears of repentance; then to the
two sad and weary ones on the way to
Emmaus who were saying, We
trusted it had been he who should
have redeemed Israel"
On the Emmaus Road
Let us consider this story of the
first Easter Sunday evening. There
IS q peculiar charm in it, and the very
simplicity wins our hearts. How real
istic 1t is, how true to life, how pa
thetic in its exhibition Of mutual sor-
row and the concern of friend who
knows all about us, though we may
| not know who he is; how encourag
ing to hearts Respondent and sad One
can picture the scene. without difficult
| ty. 1t had been day of great excite
ment in Jerusalem; there were many
conflicting reports about Jesus, who
had been away in the tomb, few days
before; some gave account of strange
4 things they had seen and heard, but
grave doubt still possessed many of
the disciples; and now these two are
on their homeward way, sorrowful as
they go, under the shadow of great
4 perplexing mystery. Perhaps light and
comfort will come in the quiet and
rest of home
As they journeyed stranger joined
4 hem. inquiring the cause Of their sor-
4 row and learning what he knew, their
! perpiexity about what had happened
! that day. 1t was not strange that they
did not know him. To Abraham he
/ came as a wayfaring man, to Joshua
as a soldier, to Jacob as a wrestler, to
Mary as gardener; besides their eyes
4 We're holden. But. meeting their per-
plexity and doubt, with precious I'M
folding Of the Scriptures, beginning
at Moses and all the prophets, he ex-
pounded unto them in all the Scrip
lures the things concerning himself
i Four blessings came to these sorrow
ing travellers from their unknown com
I panion-the minds were opened
their hearts burned within them, their
t eyes were opened, and he revealed
himself as set forth In all the Scrip
i lures.
The Gracious Revelation.
And he made as though he would
have gone further. But they CON
strained him and he went In to
tarry with them" That is one OF the
/ sweetest touches in the story. But what
calamity If they had let this UNI
known companion go on his way-no
gracious revelation Of the very Christ
on whom their hopes had been set
And your calamity will be great If you
| do not constrain the tarrying Jesus to
come in and abide with you. Oh. bid
I IL.
Can burning hearts keep back the
message? These disciples were filled
with Joy. Possibly they did not wait
I to finish the meal, for they rose up
that same hour, Fastening to Jeru-
salem to tell the glad story about the
risen Lord who had considered it
worth while to take time on the first
day of his resurrection to walk seven
miles into the country with two sor-
row-stricken disciples.
And this Christ with the tender
heart Is with us yet The evangel of
Easter is the glad news Of Savior,
who by his resurrection from dead,
has power to raise our souls from
death. AS you accept Christ, the very
omnipotence of God will work within
you, and your faith win secure for YOU
in your daily life share in the resur-
rection of Christ Eph. 1919, 20). May
this beautiful Easter story repeat it.
self in your life. May you have
Christ as your companion, your teach
Ell. your friend, your guest; and ali
that, and more, he will be after he
has become your Savior. Sorrowing.
SHINING soul, he may be meeting you
on the way just now; perhaps just at
the parting Of the ways; do not let
him go on. but do say
Il need thy presence every passing hour;
What but thy grace can foil the tempters
pow'r7
Who like myself my guide and stay can