Burning Hearts – Luke 24:13-35

What does it feel like to be rebuked by Jesus?  It hurts good.  Peter was rebuked (“Get behind me, Satan”), John and James were rebuked (those sons of thunder), and these two precious disciples, walking dejectedly back to Emmaus after witnessing the horrendous death of their master, were rebuked by Jesus.  But the rebuke of Jesus does not crush or destroy.  It gives life.

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”  

And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.  (Luke 24:13-35 ESV)

That the risen Jesus was normally recognizable is evident from the fact that the eyes of these disciples had to be closed so they won’t recognize him.  He feigns ignorance of their concerns allowing them to process out loud and to see their hearts.  Then he rebukes their foolishness at not believing the Scriptures when they predicted Messiah’s suffering and resurrection (Isaiah 53 would have been a particularly apt passage among others).  He gives them a lesson in interpretation of these prophecies.

They have felt their hearts burning in them at his instruction so ask him to have supper with them.  When their eyes are opened to recognize him he vanishes, indicating that his new resurrection body has capabilities that his unresurrected body did not.  He is able to travel through space in ways he could not before.  They race back to Jerusalem to tell the apostles and have confirmed for them that Jesus has been seen by Peter, also.  Jesus is alive!

Would Jesus teach me?  I believe he would and has.  Have you not felt your heart beating faster and the thrill rising in you as the Scriptures speak to you?  Nothing greater!