Luke 24:13-35 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about three score furlongs.… I. CHRIST'S METHOD OF REVEALING HIMSELF. 1. Scripture exposition. 2. Talking. The grandest things demand the simplest presentation. II. LOOK NOW AT SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF THIS REVELATION ON HIS DISCIPLES. 1. The first effect was deeply interior and experimental. "Their hearts began to burn within them." There was an unusual interest — a feeling they had never had till now — a longing and a love, and a begun enthusiasm which all their after-life was to express. What effect can be finer than this? or more desirable? — the effect of the burning heart. It is well enough to have an idea, and a sight of things; to see the things that can be seen, and know the truth that can be known. But it is yet better to have a deep, warm, inward sense of them; to have them burning in the breast, and all the breast aflame with the holy fire. No better effect could come to us of our "talkings" together by the way; and of our endeavours to open to each other the Scriptures. 2. The next effect is what we may express in the phrase: "the willing feet." "They rose up the same hour and returned to Jerusalem." The feeling was instinctive that something must be done, and done immediately. All this good news which has turned their hearts into fountains of joy, must, in some way, be told, and told without delay; in what way may best remain to be seen; but the first thing to be done is to return to Jerusalem. There their hopes were buried three days ago, and they go now to tell of their resurrection. There, their friends are; and probably their work, and possibly their sufferings. No matter. They must go. Is it not always thus with those to whom Christ makes Himself known? Arising out of the feeling of His presence, along with the burning of heart that makes that presence known, is the immediate and ineffaceable conviction that something must be done for Him. "Here am I, send me." "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" At least, I feel that whatever my hand findeth to do, I must do it with all my might, and without delay. I must go; and when I reach the end of the little journey, I must speak. 3. Thus we come to another effect of the relation of Christ, which we may call the effect of the ready-tongue. When they came to Jerusalem, they told "what things were done in the way," and how "He was known of them in the breaking of bread." (A. Raleigh, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. |
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