Have You Been on the Road to Emmaus?

     Most of us have walked through perplexing times in our lives at one point or another.  We wonder what God is doing and often, why?  This was the mindset of two men who were  on their way to village called Emmaus some seven miles from Jerusalem.  They were distraught over the crucifixion of their Lord and did not yet know He had risen from the dead.  We can only imagine how they felt and what they said to one another.

     As they walked along, another man joined their company and began conversing with them.  They did not recognize that it was Jesus.  How easy it was for the Lord to lead them into discussing the events that took place in Jerusalem.  The men explained that two women had gone to the tomb but did not find the body of their Lord.  Two angels told them that He was alive so some of the disciples went to the tomb to see, and found no body.  At this point, Jesus began to explain to Cleopas and the other disciple what the Scriptures said concerning the Christ.  In Luke 24:27, the writer tells us:  "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. "  Then, when they all sat down to a meal together, Jesus broke bread, blessed it and gave it to them.  It was at that moment that they recognized the Lord had risen indeed.  Jesus then disappeared and both men exclaimed (in verse 32): "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?"  Another version of this verse said that Jesus opened their understanding of the Scriptures to them.

     After reading this passage (Luke 24:13-35), I thought how wonderful it is that the Lord opened their hearts and minds by interpreting to them all the Scriptures that pointed to His life, ministry, death and resurrection so that they could comprehend what God had done for them.  What's even better, however, is that we have the Holy Spirit as believers who can lead, teach and guide us into all truth just as Jesus did on the Road to Emmaus.  The key, though, is being in God's Word on a regular basis.  Notice that in the story I just related, Jesus did not disclose Himself to the men right away.  Instead, He took them through the Scripture so they could clearly see the plan of redemption from beginning to end.  

     Dear friends, the Lord gave us the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us, but He also gave us the Bible to show us the truth about who He is and who we are.  When we do not take the time to meditate on Scripture, we are starving ourselves spiritually.  Each day when I sit down to study God's Word, I pray that the Lord will open my understanding as He did for those men on the way to Emmaus.  Often we are slow to comprehend as these men were because it takes time to digest the Word.  This is one reason we are told to meditate on it day and night.  

     In addition, the process of praying over what we read in His Word is just as important.  We are, in essence, having a conversation with the Lord just as the men going to Emmaus were doing.  This is how we can come to comprehend the truths God wants us to see in His Word.

     Finally, and most importantly, we need to be in fellowship and sitting under the proclamation of God's Word each week.  If we really want to grow in our understanding and faith, it is imperative for us to fellowship with other believers as we hear the Bible expounded.  God provides a rich banquet each Lord's Day and invites us to come sup with Him.  My prayer for myself and for all of you reading this is that the Lord Jesus Christ would open our understanding of His Word that we may grow in His grace and knowledge for His glory!  Selah