The Republican., 1941-04-10

LESSON TEXT-Luke 24:13.17, 25-35.
GOLDEN TEXT am he that liveth,
and was dead; and. behold. am alive for
evermore.-Revelation lib.
Certainty and assurance - these
are at the heart of our observance
of Easter. We declare with Paul,
''Now is Christ risen from the dead"
Il Cor. 1920, and that He is ''de-
clared to be the Son of God with
power by the resurrection from
the dead" (Rom. 1:4). We would
join the apostles who with great
power gave e.. witness of the res
direction Of the Lord Jesus" (Acts
4:33).
Someone may say, 'That's we'll
enough for you who have faith in
God, but I'm bewildered, uncertain,
fearful, in a disordered world. What
shall I do?" Come with US as, in
our lesson, we join two men who
had become bewildered, who felt
that all their hopes had been
crushed, that the future was only to
be feared.
We join them as they walk YEARLY
along the road from Jerusalem to
Emmaus. Suddenly there is Another
with the little group. Let us listen
to their conversation. First we find
I. Holden Eyes and Slow Hearts
wv. 1877, 25, 26).
The two sad men who had left
Jerusalem to go to Emmaus were
disciples of our Lord who had just
been through the crushing expert
ence of seeing Him crucifed. Now,
as the jeering mob held triumphant
sway in the city, they left the dead
Christ (as they supposed) in the
tomb and went their way. True,
there had been some reports on the
morning of the third day that the
women had seen Jesus alive wv.
%, 24), but their hope and faith was
at such low ebb that they could not
or did not-believe. Even when
Jesus appeared to walk with them
and question them, they did not
know Him.
Eyes closed by unbelief; faith hin
dered by doubt and fear; a despond-
ent heart slow to believe God-how
very effectively these shut out the
blessing of God and of His Word,
even to the believer. Even deeper
is the darkness in which the un-
believer finds himself. But all is not
lost; there is One here who can open
unseeing eyes and warm cold hearts
even Jesus.
ii. Burning Hearts and Opened
Eyes wv. 26-32).
Although they did not realize it
Chow slow we are to appreciate our
blessingsD until after He was gone
". 32), their hearts began to burn
within them as soon as He began to
expound the Scriptures to them.
What Bible exposition that was,
as Christ Himself opened all that the
Scriptures taught concerning Him!
Bible teachers have talked about,
and it makes ones heart burn just to
read their suggestions (see for ex-
ample Morgan on Luke, page 278).
Little wonder that these men were
strangely warmed" as they lis
tened.
The way to have a burning heart
is to read Gods Word or to have it
eXpounded by Spirit-filled teacher
or preacher. Especially is there
blessing in reading and studying
what the sacred Book teaches about
our blessed Lord.
With the heart strangely
warmed" as John Wesley described
his Aldersgate experience, comes
the opened eye. "They knew him"
". 31) in the breaking of the bread.
Perhaps they saw the scar in His
hand, or possibly they identified
familiar gesture or something in His
voice; but until their hearts were
warmed they did not see. Paul knew
that truth when he declared: "But
the natural man receiveth not the
things of the Spirit of God: for they
are foolishness unto him: neither
can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned" Il Cor. 2:14).
Some reader who has trouble be-
lieving in the resurrection will find
the problem solved when he meets
Christ and has his heart changed in
regeneration. What follows?
III. Quickened Feet and Glad Tes-
timOny wv. 1885.
The seven miles (sixty furlongs,
v. 13) which had passed so Slowly
were now quickly retraced. They
had glorious good news to bring to
the disciples at Jerusalem. How
swift are the feet of the one who has
good tidings to bear (see Rom.
10:15). One wonders why so many
professed Christians are so slow
about carrying His message. Can
it be that they do not yet know the
risen Christ? For if we know Him,
surely I'VE do not well' to keep
silent in day of good tidings III
Kings 7:9).
Note in verse "a that before they
could speak, the others gave them
the good news of the resurrection.
1t is proper and delightful that be-
levers share spiritual blessings
(Rom. Ill, 12). That's why we
come together in Gods house.
Brother in the Lord, Christian SIS
ter, how long is it since you had a
new and stirring experience of the
presence of Christ? Not necessarily
spectacular or exciting, but a real
spiritual experience. Let's ask Him
for it!