EMMAUS ROAD. CHRIST SHOWED HIS RISEN LIFE EACH STEP Luke 24

These are additional to the study ‘Bursting with joy’ on the web site.

Our Lord said, ‘Why are you so sad as you walk?’ (v17) The 2 disciples were sullen, angry and gloomy-countenanced (Wuest), deeply traumatised with rejection and crucifixion of their Lord; as religious leaders vilified Him. They resented the high priest’s derision of the Lord; they were angry, disappointed with a ‘lost’ cause. Their feet were leaden- their hearts breaking. These were classical symptoms of depression, seen often in our consulting rooms or in your counselling .

Christ proved His resurrection from the dead and from the grave by scattering their depression and lifting their dejected spirits. HE is the supreme COUNSELLOR. Their spirit revived; their hearts were recharged; their feet lost their leadenness; they walked back to Jerusalem bursting with joy. 12 kms or 7 ½ miles.

The 2 men told the risen Lord, ’The chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death and crucified Him’ (v20) The Greek term ‘delivered’ covers the whole range of events from His capture in the garden; binding with cords; cross examination by the high priests; seeking Governor Pilate to incriminate their Lord; the humiliation of the infamous Herod’ the flogging, the derision; the passive surrender by Pilate; the sentencing to death by the torturous cross; and the patient endurance of the crucifixion. God’s word was accurately fulfilled.

They further explained ‘That certain women of our company who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. The Amplified New Testament records,’ They drove us our of our minds.’ Consider the sheer miracle of the resurrection of one human cell, remembering there are a trillion cells in each human. The DNA information of each cell would fill 5 entire copies of the Encyclopaedia Britannica with its 25 volumes. If one risen cell is a miracle, consider the entire Christ, gloriously risen from the dead. Oxford theologian, C S Lewis stated, ‘If you believe Christ rose from the dead, you believe in the greatest miracle possible. Be comforted with this wonder.

A medical term in verse 25 is instructive; ’You are slow of heart (bradycardia) to believe all that the prophets have spoken.’ When the nervous control from the brain or head is interrupted, the heart beats at its intrinsic rate, about 40 per minute, greatly limiting normal body activity. . This is a heart block, requiring a pace-maker to restore normal rhythm. When the disciples no longer received their instructions from Christ, their Head- and His holy prophets, they were slow of heart. They needed the pacemaker of God’s Holy Spirit to restore the normal rhythm of vibrant Christian living. How is your heart rate? Do you believe all that the prophets have spoken concerning the Lord? Or do you need a Pace-maker?

The risen Christ presided over the most remarkable bible study possible, ‘Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the

Scriptures, the things concerning Himself. ’ When our Lord moved into Exodus, He reminded the disciples, ‘He was the great I A.M.’I am that I am. : He was the Passover Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world: He was the Rock that was given for life-giving water to flow in the desert: He was the manna each morning and the quail each night six days weekly. ’He was the Angel of the Lord, who went before the camp of Israel (14) Christ was the theme of the 15th chapter, the song of Moses, ’The Lord is his strength and song; He has become his salvation.’ Allow the same risen Lord to daily open the precious Scriptures to you, by the Holy Spirit.

The disciples recorded ’did not our heart burn with in us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the scriptures.’ (v32) Jeremiah knew this blazing when he wrote,’ Your words were found and I ate them. Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.’ (15:16). Tragically, we can douse the burning fire of our hearts as the worldly ashes of old fires extinguish God’s passion. How long since you were consumed with the blazing searching of God’s Word?

The disciples cherished the first words from the risen Christ after the 2 disciples had reported their staggering experience. The exclusive greeting of the conquering Lord was ‘Peace be with you’ He referred to his victory in dying for our sins, ’For He made peace through the blood of His cross.’ Peace with God the Father; peace in the sinner’s heart after repentance and forgiveness; peace in home relationships; husband and wife reconciled; father and son, mother and daughter at peace with each other.’ No words could better describe the extensive conquest of the suffering Saviour. The world waits for us to preach Christ and Him crucified.

Our walk with the Christ is personal and intimate. He said, ‘Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself.’ Then the unusual invitation, ’Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see Me have.’ Handle Me’ yearns for an individual experience of the risen Lord. We alone can respond to that personal command. Handle the exalted Lord: let Him speak to you as you study His precious eternal word: pour out your heart in adoring prayer: young and old must separately know Him- and revel in Him. Oh the power of His resurrection.

In one country church a sweet young girl rises early to meet her Lord, so that her parents see her on her knees, worshipping her risen Lord. She drinks in the word as I preach. She heard Her beloved Lord say, ‘Alisa, handle Me and see.’

The resurrected Lord spoke to His disciples, ‘All things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me. He opened their understanding that they might comprehend the scriptures.’ Then He said significantly, ‘Thus IT IS WRITTEN’, It was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.’ (vv 44-46_) Powerful words, ‘It is written’, which the Lord quoted three times in the fearsome encounter with the devil in the wilderness. The devil challenged our Lord in temptations in the spirit, soul and body. Our Lord overcame his enticement with dynamic words of Scripture, taken from Deuteronomy, ‘It is written.’ Remember: He walks with me and talks with me.