The midland journal., 1946-04-19
TWO FRIENDS TALK
WITH CHRIST

LESSON TEXT-Luke 24:13-21, 1881.
MEMORY SELECTION-They said one
to another, Did not our heart burn within
US, while he talked with us by the way. and
while he opened to US the scriptures'-
Luke 24:32
Fellowship with the risen living
Lord is the unfailing source of faith
and courage. Such certainty is the
very essence of our observance OF
Easter.
We declare with Paul, "Now is
Christ risen from the dead" Il Cor.
1920, and that He is declared 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 witness Of the resurrec-
ton of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 4:33).
Come with US as we join two men
who had become bewildered, who
felt that all their hopes had been
crushed.
We join them as they walk wearily
along the road from Jerusalem to
Emmaus. Suddenly there is An
other with the little group. Let us
listen to their conversation.
Something is obviously wrong
here. These two men are disheart-
ened and discouraged. They are
men with
1. Chilled Hearts and Sad Unbelief
(vv. 1920.
Teachers will observe that we are
using the full story in Luke 24:13-35.
The two sad men, who had left
Jerusalem to 60 to Emmaus were
disciples Of our Lord, and they had
just been through the crushing ex-
perience of seeing Him crucified.
True, there had been some re-
ports on the morning Of this third
day, that the women had seen Jesus
alive (vv. %, 24). But their hope
and faith were at such low ebb that
they could motor did not-believe.
Their hearts had been chilled by
the dreadful things which had taken
place.
Eyes closed by unbelief; faith
hindered by doubt and fear; de-
spondent 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
unbeliever finds himself.
III. Warmed Hearts and Renewed
Faith (vv. 27-32). q
Although they did not realize 1t
chow slow we are to appreciate our
blessingsD until after Jesus was
gone ". 32), their hearts burned
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
this and it makes ones heart burn
just to read their suggestions (see,
for example, G.. Campbell Morgan
on Luke, p. 278).
The way to have burning heart
Is to read Gods Word, or to have it
expounded by a Spirit-filled teacher
or preacher.
When the heart has been warmed
by the written Word and by fellow
ship with the living Word, our Lord
Himself, the opened eye Of renewed
faith follows as day follows night.
Now they knew the Stranger who
was with them-and He was gone.
How did they know Him? We read
that they knew Him in the breaking
Of the bread ". 32).
Paul declared that same truth
when he said, ''The natural man
receiveth not the things of the
Spirit of God: for they are foolish
ness unto him: neither can he
know them, because they are spirit
ually discerned' Il. Cor. 2:l4).
iii. Quickened Hearts and Glad
Testimony (vv. 33-35).
The seven miles (sixty furlongs),
". 13) which had passed so slowly
as they came over were now quick
ly retraced. They had glorious
good news to bring to the disciples
at Jerusalem. How swift are the
feet of the one who has good It'd
AASS w OC04 \SCC IeOIl1. AZ. AOjI
One wonders why so many pro-
fessed 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, we
will realize that 1--WE do not well"
to keep silent in day of good It'd
ings (II Kings 7:9).
Note in verse "a that before they
could speak, the others gave them
the good news Of the resurrection.
It Is proper and delightful that be-
levers share spiritual blessings
(Rom. I'LL, i2). That's why we
come together In Gods house.
Brother in the Lord, Christian sis
ter, how long Is it since you had
new and stirring experience Of the
presence Of Christi Not necessarily
something spectacular or exciting,
but real deep, stirring spiritual
experience.
God is the same. Our need Is