DEVOTION
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO
LUKE
A 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
Although we were with this passage
yesterday and focused on the question that Jesus asked them, we also wanted to
consider the hearts of these two men. First, when they thought they had lost Jesus
to the cross, and it might look like their moment was going to come to an end
their hearts were downcast. Life without hope is a sad way to live. It is also an
unfortunate way to live having eyes closed, which also means the heart is
closed and not being able to recognize Jesus. To be kept from being able to see
Jesus would mean a hopeless life. It is interesting that in our
conversations with people who, at least, know the name of Jesus, but do not see
him as their Lord and Savior think they are going to heaven when they die because
they think they are a good person. Yet, in reality, they are living in the dark
without a real reason for hope. Their hope is in being a good person, but
that will not do them any good. Hopelessness is no way to live. Jesus
even told those two men they were foolish and slow of heart. But the wonderful
thing that happened was that as Jesus sat with them and broke the bread, their
eyes and hearts were opened, and they knew it was Jesus. How they must
have been excited, and full of that same hope all over again. I remember the
excitement I felt the first time I met and recognized Jesus for who he is. My
heart was pounding within, and I could not contain my exuberance because, for
the first time in my life, I had hope there was more than death being the end of my
life. My heart was burning because I had recognized Jesus. Let us never let the
fire go out of our hearts, let us always have a burning heart.
1 comment:
Amen to that!
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