The Warm Hearts of the Redeemed Community
And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of 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 gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "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 24:31-35, RSV.
Their eyes had been opened! Suddenly everything had made sense! Now they knew why their hearts had felt a burning glow while they had journeyed for two hours as the "Stranger" had explained things to them.
Already when they had begun the seven-mile trudge to Emmaus it had been late, and by the time they had arrived the day was "far spent" (verse 29). And then there was a meal that consumed more time.
But they forget all that when their eyes are opened and they grasp the gospel story and the meaning of Christ's death and resurrection. Now all they can do, in spite of the lateness of the hour, is to return to Jerusalem and share the good news about Jesus.
But the return trip is hardly the mournful trudge of the earlier journey. Now their feet fairly fly as they race back to that upper room where the disciples had been hiding, mourning, and commiserating. Having found Jesus, they could hardly wait to share it with others. I can imagine that they easily made the seven-mile trip in an hour or less. And they aren't even tired. All that is gone, along with their discouragement. Their eyes had been opened! Now that they had discovered the truth, their only desire is to bring it to others.
That's what happened to everyone who truly has stood at the heart of Christianity for 2,000 years. Christianity is not a solitary experience--it is communal. It is rejoicing with others who have also had their eyes opened. And it is taking the message of a risen Savior to those who are still blind and need hope.
Our passage for today closes with a note about Peter. Jesus had gone out of His way to comfort this man who had fallen from the path. Scripture makes special mention of Jesus' opening of His fallen disciples' eyes also.
Here is love! Here is grace! Here is what the Christian faith is all about--Jesus coming to seek and to save that which is lost (Luke 19:10). Here is true redemption.
And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of 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 gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "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 24:31-35, RSV.
Their eyes had been opened! Suddenly everything had made sense! Now they knew why their hearts had felt a burning glow while they had journeyed for two hours as the "Stranger" had explained things to them.
Already when they had begun the seven-mile trudge to Emmaus it had been late, and by the time they had arrived the day was "far spent" (verse 29). And then there was a meal that consumed more time.
But they forget all that when their eyes are opened and they grasp the gospel story and the meaning of Christ's death and resurrection. Now all they can do, in spite of the lateness of the hour, is to return to Jerusalem and share the good news about Jesus.
But the return trip is hardly the mournful trudge of the earlier journey. Now their feet fairly fly as they race back to that upper room where the disciples had been hiding, mourning, and commiserating. Having found Jesus, they could hardly wait to share it with others. I can imagine that they easily made the seven-mile trip in an hour or less. And they aren't even tired. All that is gone, along with their discouragement. Their eyes had been opened! Now that they had discovered the truth, their only desire is to bring it to others.
That's what happened to everyone who truly has stood at the heart of Christianity for 2,000 years. Christianity is not a solitary experience--it is communal. It is rejoicing with others who have also had their eyes opened. And it is taking the message of a risen Savior to those who are still blind and need hope.
Our passage for today closes with a note about Peter. Jesus had gone out of His way to comfort this man who had fallen from the path. Scripture makes special mention of Jesus' opening of His fallen disciples' eyes also.
Here is love! Here is grace! Here is what the Christian faith is all about--Jesus coming to seek and to save that which is lost (Luke 19:10). Here is true redemption.
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