Surprised by Joy

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

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Luke 24:13-16, 25-35

IT WAS the very day on which our Lord had risen from the dead; and while Jesus had explained to his followers that it would be necessary for him to die and that he would be resurrected on the third day, the hope was too much for them to grasp. Their hearts were filled, instead, with grief and fear.

It was in the afternoon of that momentous day that Cleopas and another disciple proceeded on their way to Emmaus, where Cleopas lived. They were aware of the report from the women in their company concerning the empty tomb which had been found that morning (vss. 22,23), and they had heard that Peter and John had visited the sepulchre after learning the news from Mary Magdalene and the other women (vs. 24). But the reports of the resurrection were not accepted. “Their words seemed to them as idle tales.” (Luke 24:11) The two were in a state of shock and disbelief.

In this state of heart and mind the two were joined by a stranger, who asked why they were sad. They, in turn, could not understand why the stranger had not heard of the great events that had transpired. “And one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him [Jesus, who had actually materialized in the form of a man], Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?” (vs. 18) When the stranger asked (vs. 19), “What things?” they proceeded to open their hearts to him. They spoke of Jesus, the Son of God, who was a great Prophet and Teacher; and they explained how the religious rulers had been responsible for having him put to death. They were sadly disappointed to have lost him as a great Teacher but also because they had believed him to be the Redeemer of all Israel.

While Cleopas and the other disciple did not recognize the Lord Jesus in the form of the stranger, they did, nevertheless, regain their confidence in him and his ministry by the very things they discussed as they strode together along the Emmaus road. Jesus was still, in their minds, “a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.” (vs. 19) They had not failed to recognize him for what he was, nor to lose faith in the great lessons which he had taught them.

Having put them in the proper frame of mind for further instruction, Jesus then proceeded to explain why it was necessary for him to die. Still the great Teacher that he was, he turned to the writings of Moses and the prophets to prove the matter. From Moses’ writings he may have recalled God’s promise which said (Deut. 18:18): “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.” This, and the subsequent verses, he would have applied as typically representing himself. From Moses’ writings, God’s Law is recorded and the atonement-day sacrifices, which show our Lord’s sacrifice for the sins of the world.

From the prophecies we read (Isa. 9:6,7): “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Do not our hearts also burn within us when we contemplate the true meaning of this prophecy? This scripture and others inspire us because they have also been opened to our understanding. We likewise marvel at the magnitude of God’s great plan of redemption.

Even with all of this expounding of truth, the two disciples did not recognize the resurrected Jesus as he opened the Scriptures to them. As they neared their destination, Jesus accepted their invitation to join them for an evening meal. It was at that time, when he broke bread with them in the familiar manner, that the eyes of their understanding were opened. Their dismay and perplexity had been turned to joy!

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