What? Are we still on Easter? I thought that was last Sunday. No, friends, the reality of the resurrection stays with us—always.

I could choose from many resurrection scenes: Mary Magdalene hearing Jesus call her name, the women at the tomb, Peter and John running to find the tomb empty, or Jesus’ appearance to the disciples in the upper room.

But my favorite scene is Jesus’ hidden appearance to the two on the road to Emmaus. So, we will leave Matthew’s point of view and turn to “the two.”

Cleopas and his traveling companion (maybe a wife or other relative) were on their way home from Jerusalem where they had been with the disciples and other followers of Jesus. These believers were frustrated, fearful for their own lives, disappointed, sorrowful, guilty—anything but joyful.

In this mood, the two began their seven-mile walk back to their home. Part way, they were joined by a stranger who didn’t seem to know what had been going on in Jerusalem, so they explained. Little did they realize that they were speaking with the resurrected Lord!

When Jesus heard them say,

“…we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” Luke 24:21

Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” Luke 24:25

Jesus began a five-mile, Old Testament  teaching session to help them put everything together so they could see how fulfillment had indeed come through Him.

When they arrived at their home, they urged Him to stay with them. Their eyes were opened when Jesus began to break and bless the bread. Was it the way He did it? Did they see the scars from the nails? Was there something about His eyes or His tone that suddenly made Him recognizable? We don’t know. We are just told that they recognized Him and then he simply disappeared.

May I add what I imagine they said next?

“Did you see what I saw?”

“Yes, can you believe it was the Lord Himself?”

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?” Luke 24:32

They were too excited to wait until morning to share this great news. They headed right back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples.

My question to you is, when has the Lord opened your eyes with His Scripture and revealed Himself in such a powerful way that you could say, “Didn’t my heart burn within me?”

Did your heart burn within you this past resurrection morning while you listened to the music or sang His praises or took in the message or contemplated once again the redemptive work of the cross and the power of His resurrection which paves the way for your own resurrection into His divine presence?

Next week, I will share personal experiences when “my heart burned within me.”

~ Joyce ~