This day is no different; people still have a difficult time with TOTAL belief; it is part of the human condition it seems, and yet, there is no reason for us to doubt even in the slightest! Surely the enemy has a hand in this, because he knows that we are easily swayed, easily sidetracked, we easily forget, and well, we HAVE issues which can work against us! Many people place conditions even on belief, which works against them! If we CAN'T FULLY believe in our LORD, and HIS POWERS OVER ALL, and EVERYTHING; if we can't believe that though RISEN, HE IS in our midst, then how can we expect to receive of HIM in any way, let alone that which is crucial to our also, rising?!!!
I experience the sadness which the Disciples felt; which also, weakens us, for we are prone to clinging to the physical! We are hard pressed to appreciate the spiritual MORE than the physical; this we have taken on via the world, and it's ways, AND we MUST understand, and accept that HE HAD to suffer so drastically FOR our sake, and for the enemy to witness, completely, the POWERS of *GOD*!!!
THE LORD, CHRIST JESUS, our SAVIOUR, and KING IS ALWAYS with us, and IS EVER nearby; this we CAN rely on, and MUST remember! We ARE ONE WITH HIM IF we REMAIN IN HIM IN SPIRIT, and TRUTH!!!
KEY IS to BE ACTIVE IN our ONENESS with HIM; to KEEP HIM at the front, center, rear, and all around! To KEEP HIS WILL in heart, and mind, and to exist as though HE were physically present in human form! IF we always continue on AS HIS, we are less likely to be taken in by what is of this world! YES CHRIST IS RISEN, though HE IS right here! Let us move through this season taking on more knowledge, understanding, and growth, that we ARE TRUE WITNESSES, and REFLECTIONS of HIS WILL; granting LIGHT to those whom the darkness intends to take! Let us seek to have our minds OPENED to the Scriptures, and let us then, exist therein!!!
13+++And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.
14+++And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.
15+++While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.
16+++But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.
17+++And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad.
18+++One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?”
19+++And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people,
20+++and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him.
21+++“But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.
22+++“But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning,
23+++and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive.
24+++“Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.”
25+++And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
26+++“Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?”
27+++Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
28+++And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther.
29+++But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them.
30+++When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them.
31+++Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.
32+++They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”
33+++And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them,
34+++saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.”
35+++They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
36+++While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
37+++But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit.
38+++And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
39+++“See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
40+++And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.
41+++While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
42+++They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish;
43+++and He took it and ate it before them.
44+++Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
45+++Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
46+++and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day,
47+++and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
48+++“You are witnesses of these things.
49+++“And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Those who seek Christ, shall find him: he will manifest himself to those that inquire after him; and give knowledge to those who use the helps for knowledge which they have. No matter how it was, but so it was, they did not know him; he so ordering it, that they might the more freely discourse with him. Christ's disciples are often sad and sorrowful, even when they have reason to rejoice; but through the weakness of their faith, they cannot take the comfort offered to them.
Though Christ is entered into his state of exaltation, yet he notices the sorrows of his disciples, and is afflicted in their afflictions. Those are strangers in Jerusalem, that know not of the death and sufferings of Jesus. Those who have the knowledge of Christ crucified, should seek to spread that knowledge. Our Lord Jesus reproved them for the weakness of their faith in the Scriptures of the Old Testament. Did we know more of the Divine counsels as far as they are made known in the Scriptures, we should not be subject to the perplexities we often entangle ourselves in.
He shows them that the sufferings of Christ were really the appointed way to his glory; but the cross of Christ was that to which they could not reconcile themselves. Beginning at Moses, the first inspired writer of the Old Testament, Jesus expounded to them the things concerning himself. There are many passages throughout all the Scriptures concerning Christ, which it is of great advantage to put together. We cannot go far in any part, but we meet with something that has reference to Christ, some prophecy, some promise, some prayer, some type or other. A golden thread of gospel grace runs through the whole web of the Old Testament. Christ is the best expositor of Scripture; and even after his resurrection, he led people to know the mystery concerning himself, not by advancing new notions, but by showing how the Scripture was fulfilled, and turning them to the earnest study of it.
If we would have Christ dwell with us, we must be earnest with him. Those that have experienced the pleasure and profit of communion with him, cannot but desire more of his company. He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. This he did with his usual authority and affection, with the same manner, perhaps with the same words. He here teaches us to crave a blessing on every meal. See how Christ by his Spirit and grace makes himself known to the souls of his people. He opens the Scriptures to them. He meets them at his table, in the ordinance of the Lord's supper; is known to them in breaking of bread. But the work is completed by the opening of the eyes of their mind; yet it is but short views we have of Christ in this world, but when we enter heaven, we shall see him for ever. They had found the preaching powerful, even when they knew not the preacher.
Those Scriptures which speak of Christ, will warm the hearts of his true disciples. That is likely to do most good, which affects us with the love of Jesus in dying for us. It is the duty of those to whom he has shown himself, to let others know what he has done for their souls. It is of great use for the disciples of Christ to compare their experiences, and tell them to each other.
Jesus appeared in a miraculous manner, assuring the disciples of his peace, though they had so lately forsaken him, and promising spiritual peace with every blessing. Many troublesome thoughts which disquiet our minds, rise from mistakes concerning Christ. All the troublesome thoughts which rise in our hearts at any time, are known to the Lord Jesus, and are displeasing to him. He spake with them on their unreasonable unbelief. Nothing had passed but what was foretold by the prophets, and necessary for the salvation of sinners.
And now all men should be taught the nature and necessity of repentance, in order to the forgiveness of their sins. And these blessings were to be sought for, by faith in the name of Jesus.
Christ by his Spirit works on the minds of men. Even good men need to have their understandings opened. But that we may have right thoughts of Christ, there needs no more than to be made to understand the Scriptures.
No comments:
Post a Comment