Luke 24 Jesus opens our hearts to understand the unified testimony to Him in Scripture

Biao Chen

Personally I love to have four gospels to depict the life and ministries of our Lord Jesus on earth in various lenses.  By reading the Scripture in this particular order (Gospel/NT, and OT plus Psalms), we in fact would be reminded 4 times per year about the birth, life, passion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, not merely one cycle according to Christian calendar. This is really cool for our soul and body as we are intended to be recreated in the image of God, Christ.

The story and teaching of “on the Road to Emmaus”  is one of my favorite passages for many years.  Do you know that this is the first of three resurrection appearances found in Luke and is one of the longest stories in the Gospel? Do you realize that this is one critical and insightful teaching to us about Christ-center reading/preaching from all Scritpures (Old and New Testaments), as Jesus said “everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” (verse 44, reference 27)?  No wonder one of the greatest warming Jesus gave to Jews in similar way:  “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,  yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” (Joh 5:39-40)

Our hearts often just like two disciples on the road to the Emmaus, slow of heart to believe the testimony of Scripture for Christ. Is that the case for you as you come to his Holy words sometimes? I admit that is my case sometimes.  How can we cultivate the quickness of heart to believe? One of effective way for us is to practice “drawer near to God, so He will draw near to us” by beginning our devotion or day with prayer and plea the His Spirit filling us again and leading us into the wonder of His grace and glory in His Words.  My prayer for you all today are,
you would say “to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us while [Jesus] talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures? (verse 32)’ ”.  Just like two thousand years ago for what happen to that two disciples, who rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem to share resurrection news of Jesus Christ with the rest of eleven Apostles, may God open our heart and mind once again toward Heavenly Jerusalem, where Jesus enthrone now at right hand of the Father, and encourage our brothers and sisters in the same way in the family of God.