Burning Heart

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

BURNING HEART

Luke 24:13-32

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 19 "What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." 25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?"  27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

NIV

A rather long and familiar story regarding Jesus appearing to these two men on the road to Emmaus. Luke seems to leave out his appearance to Mary in the garden near the tomb, but certainly conveys to us this encounter in rather detail. Either Luke was one of these two, or perhaps they gave such a detailed report to the rest of the disciples when they returned to Jerusalem with such great news that Jesus is alive. But why were they kept from knowing it was Jesus when he first came up to them? Did he look different in his resurrected state? It was the same body, but somehow they did not know it was him. Was Jesus testing their willingness to testify concerning himself? With his response it certainly seems he was not pleased they only reported the facts from the human perspective without seeing the spiritual significance of what had happened. He told them how foolish they were in not seeing all the truth about him. He told them all the scriptures, all prophesies concerning himself. They had all they needed to know and understand the truth about him, but they did not, even after hearing all he had to say. Is this our lesson? Certainly we are not kept from knowing him. Certainly no one is kept from knowing him for he did actually reveal himself to them in the breaking of bread. His intent was not to keep them in the dark, but in the light, his light. With all the scripture we have today, both all the words of the prophets and all the words of the apostles it would be certain anyone could find Jesus. But there is still nothing which replaces this personal breaking of bread with him, this moment of truth when he reveals himself in his glory. People can read all the scripture, from front to back and read only with human understanding still not knowing Jesus in a close and personal way, but when he reveals himself to someone they have that “aha moment”, a moment of sudden realization, inspiration, insight, recognition or comprehension.  This too relates to our witness, our storytelling of the account of Jesus and all that happened. We can relate this story in all its fullness, but the hearer needs to experience the revelation of Jesus, in a personal way in order to know deep within their heart, he is the Lord. Intelligence alone, the intellectual knowledge of the scriptures may enlighten the human mind with historical data, but unless they encounter Jesus revealing himself through the power of the Holy Spirit, they cannot truly know Christ. These men felt that burning in their hearts, the felt the Spirit doing what he does best, yet it still required Jesus to reveal himself. The truth is Jesus will always reveal himself if we are willing to see him. He will always find a way to show us who he is, especially if we have a burning within our hearts.