Luke 24:32

New International Version (NIV)

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

For Meditation

The story is told of a supervisor who ordered a casually dressed man he saw around his company’s premises to carry a box to a delivery truck without realizing he was the owner of the company on a surprise visit. He was shocked when the site manager called a meeting later, and they introduced the man as their boss. Situations like this happen often, as the disciples on the Road to Emmaus experienced with Jesus (Lk. 24:1-35).

Before their eyes, the Roman soldiers had crucified their Master. The strong deliverer they hoped in and trusted to establish the Davidic kingdom had turned out to be weak in the hands of the chief priests and the Roman administration. The show was over, and the two disciples walked along the seven-mile stretch to Emmaus, reviewing the events of the previous three days. The resurrected Jesus came along and taught them from the scriptures about Himself—the Messiah (25-27).

Imagine the overwhelming joy that filled their hearts when Jesus revealed Himself to them later over a meal! It was a moment of wonder, a miracle unfolding before their eyes. Their Master was indeed alive, hallelujah! How could they contain such incredible news (30-33, 35)?

Some days are like that. We sink into despair because everything has fallen apart around us. We get so absorbed in our troubles and disappointments that we cannot see God in our circumstances. Our struggle becomes making sense of the insensible – something so baffling and simply unbelievable that we can’t hear God speak anymore. Is He true? Have we believed Him for nothing?

Whatever you are going through now, I pray you will not dismiss Jesus from your life. Your faith has found in Him the right place to rest. Soon the cloud will lift, and His light will shine through to warm your heart and lead you out of those cold trenches. The two discouraged disciples on Emmaus Road overflowed with joy when the Lord revealed Himself to them.

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (32)

May you, too, experience the profound presence of Jesus in your life. May He speak to you through your tears and doubts, and may you leap with joy and declare that Jesus is alive and active in your life, even in your darkest hour.

Shalom