BURNING HEARTS

 

“Did not our hearts burn within us…….while he opened to us the scriptures?” was the heartfelt reflection of two believers who enjoyed the company of the resurrected Christ on the road to a village called Emmaus (Luke 24:32). Some historians believe one of these travelers was Luke himself who recounted the story in such amazing detail.

The story goes that the Saviour joined two men, post resurrection, travelling to Emmaus, who were discussing the hottest topic of the day, His possible resurrection. The travelers told Him they ‘trusted’ the Galilean was the Messiah who would redeem Israel but were now sceptical because He had died (v 21). It would seem that nobody besides Isaiah understood the necessity of His death.

The Saviour was gracious even though He chided them for their disbelief (v 25). He then expounded to them all that was prophesied of Him ‘beginning at Moses and all the prophets’ (v27). His point was, ‘how is it that you know the scriptures but you don’t believe them’???

Perhaps the disbelief came from the lack of understanding that the Messiah would be a ‘suffering servant’ before He is the King of Glory (Isaiah 53; 9:6,7)

This lack of understanding and ensuing confusion about His death would explain why their eyes were restrained from recognising the resurrected Christ (Luke 24:16a). It was not until the Saviour administered the sacrament to them that they fully understood who He was (v 35). It was then that they reflected on their burning hearts as they listened to Him expound the scriptures. The lesson is this: the ‘burn’ comes from only one place: The Holy Ghost.

The lesson is also this: the Holy Ghost is with us still. It is he who can open our eyes and our hearts so that we will not only believe but KNOW Christ. And where is Christ most if not in the scriptures? If we study the scriptures without the presence of the Holy Ghost we are just building upon our knowledge and not our testimony. We need to feel ‘the burn’ to know.

As you travel on your personal road to Emmaus may the scriptures be burnt upon the tablets of your heart and may you know, and not just believe, that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. He is the Resurrection and the life. He is the Redeemer of your soul. He is the sacred road to your burning heart…..

I gave you My all:

My heart, my body, my soul.

I paved the way

And conquered death.

I am in your midst;

I am the only,

I am the last,

And I am the first.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Road to Emmaus by Liz Lemon Swindle)