Luke 24:1–42

The Sabbath day had interrupted the loving labours of the women with their spices. "On the first day of the week, at early dawn," they returned. Love is usually quick-sighted; it might sense coming danger where others were dull; it might have a feeling of death where others saw triumph. But none except God could anticipate the resurrection. Their labour was useless, as far as their own object was concerned, whatever grace might make of it.

"Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment." This shows three things very clearly. First, their affection for Christ. Second, that they had no expectation of the resurrection. And last, their devout piety, seen in their submission to the word of God. They longed to lavish the marks of their deep love on the dead body of their Lord. But the sabbath followed at once. So these holy women quietly waited and rested in obedience to the commandment before carrying out their plan.

It is much easier for us to do Christ's business than to believe that He has done ours. Not one form of human religion takes up that thought. So it was with the disciples. They could bring their spices and their ointments, but they were not yet able to believe the mighty fact that He had been doing their business... They came as the living to the dead, instead of believing that He, as the living One, has come down to us who were dead. We will spend our days in penances, but we will not trust Him.

The closing verses of Luke 23 and the opening part of this chapter make it very plain that none of His disciples expected His resurrection. This makes the testimony to it all the stronger and more satisfying. They were not enthusiastic dreamers, ready to believe anything, but materialistic and downcast, ready to doubt everything. The women come before us first. They had no thoughts except those suitable to an ordinary funeral. Their minds were full of the tomb, His body, and the customary spices and ointments. But the Jewish sabbath came in between and stopped their activities. This was of God, for their activities were wholly unnecessary. By the time they could have taken them up again, they would not have found the sacred body.

Christ lay in the grave that sabbath. But now He is risen — risen on the first day of the week, the firstfruits of those who slept... This is why we do not celebrate the rest of the old creation — we were utterly lost as part of it. We celebrate the resurrection of our blessed Lord instead, as the foundation and beginning of the new, now that redemption is accomplished. So after His resurrection He meets His disciples on that first day of the week when they were together. And on the next first day, the Lord's day, the same thing happens.

The first text [Matthew 28:1] speaks not of the resurrection day but of the sabbath that came before it — late on that day, at dusk, when the next day was to begin by Jewish reckoning... The Sabbath was past, as we hear in the second [Mark 16:1], and the women named bought the spices to embalm Him. But when they came to the tomb very early next morning, they learnt that the Lord was risen. That is what the third text [Luke 24:1] says. The fourth [John 20:1] tells us of two separate visits of Mary of Magdala.

"The stone rolled away." Luke, in keeping with a peculiarity of his record, has not mentioned this stone before.

Coming to the grave, these devoted women find that God had been there before them, and the stone is rolled away. It was not rolled away so that the body of the Lord might leave the grave. It was rolled away so that disciples might enter and see that the place where He had been laid is empty. No stone, however great, could hold the body of the Lord in the grave.

When Mary Magdalene came to the tomb, an angel had come down from heaven and had already rolled the stone, which was very large, away from its mouth. The Lord was no longer there. He was risen, in divine power, in perfect calmness. All the grave-clothes lay in good order in the tomb... The great stone was no obstacle to the Lord's going out. The divine power that raised Him from the dead, and the spiritual body He then had, made it easy for Him to leave the tomb.

The Sabbath day had interrupted the loving labours of the women with their spices. "On the first day of the week, at early dawn" they returned. Love is usually quick-sighted. It might sense coming danger where others were dull... None but God could anticipate the resurrection. Their labour was useless, as far as their own aim went, whatever grace might make of it.

The women, taken up with their own thoughts and affections, come with their spices to anoint the dead body of Jesus. Yet He was already living before God in the fragrance of His work and offering... At first this threw them into an unexpected difficulty: they did not find the Lord's body. Nor did they know He was risen. They did not understand that no judgment and no sin remained. There may be real and great love for Jesus without understanding this.

But men, and even saints, are slow to appreciate the resurrection. It brings God too near to them. Nothing is more characteristic of Him than raising the dead. Resurrection from among the dead must be learnt from divine teaching, for only He could reveal it in His grace. This breaks in on the whole course of the world. It shows a power above nature, victorious over Satan, which delivers even from divine judgment.

The sabbath of the old creation passes in gloom and sorrow. Then the first day of the new week comes, and with it the First-born from among the dead. He is the Head of a new creation, living on in the power of His immortal life... The stone is rolled away; the tomb empty!

The sabbath day had interrupted the loving labours of the women with their spices. "On the first day of the week, at early dawn" they returned. Love usually sees quickly. It might sense coming danger where others are dull. It might feel death coming where others saw triumph. Only God could foresee the resurrection. As far as their own aim went, their work was useless — whatever grace might count it worth.

There is something very comforting in it. It is ignorance and affection mingled. Ignorance took them to look for the living among the dead. Affection took them too, counting the dead body of the Lord worth more than everything around them. What are you to do with ignorant affection? Just what Christ did with it. He could appreciate it, but He was not satisfied with it. He will not have love in the place of faith. Love is the principle that gives; faith is the principle that takes.

The women, taken up with their own thoughts and affections, come with their spices to anoint the dead body of Jesus. But He was already living in the fragrance of His work and offering before God. He had accomplished everything that set man afresh before God the Father, the last Adam in living acceptance. Then an unexpected difficulty met them at first, for they did not find the Lord's body. Neither did they know He was risen. They did not understand that there was neither judgment nor sin remaining. There may be real and great love to Jesus without understanding this.

In Luke 24:1 we have women who loved the Lord. Surely they loved Him! Had they not watched Him on the cross? Had they not seen that precious body taken down and laid in a tomb? Did they not return to their homes and spend many hours preparing spices to embalm His body? … Why did they return? Was it not to embalm His body? Yes, it was, but it was too late, for verse 3 tells us they "did not find the body of the Lord Jesus." Yes, they were too late. He was risen and alive for evermore. The opportunity to anoint His body had passed. They loved Him, but they had not learned His mind.

He bore our sins in His body on the tree, and that body was laid in the grave. It was the same precious body that was raised again, but made alive now by the Spirit. His blood had been poured out for our redemption. Thomas saw the marks, and they convinced him. They declare plainly that it was the very same body: the temple raised from death to die no more.

"Him who lives"! What could that mean to these downcast women? He whom they sought was not there, but was risen! The tomb was empty. The spices and ointments were useless. But if He was alive again, the power of death had been broken — and all that could mean.

It is ignorance and affection mingled. Ignorance took them to look for the living among the dead. Affection took them too, counting the dead body of the Lord as worth more than everything around them. What are you to do with ignorant affection? Just what Christ did with it. He could appreciate it, but He was not satisfied with it. He will not have love in the place of faith... It is Christ who has visited me in my grave, not I who have visited Him in His grave. He is the living One, I am the dead one.

Safe in the tomb the previous evening and guarded by the soldiers, it was there no longer. Was it stolen? Who would steal it? Besides, the linen clothes in which it had been wrapped were there. It is very unlikely that anyone would take the body and leave the shroud. Where were the guards? It seems they had already disappeared, terrified by the appearance of the angel (Matthew 28:4). No human being was around to explain the unexpected event. They were perplexed, and no wonder. Their suspense, however, did not last long. For two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. Perplexity now gave way to fright. With their faces bowed to the ground, they listened to what these heavenly beings said.

Matthew has the angel in his majesty, a fitting royal attendant. Mark has a young man in a long white robe. Here we have two men. That suggests both the general theme of the Gospel of the Son of Man, and enough witness to His resurrection. They are not sitting, as the one in Mark is, but they stood by them in dazzling clothing.

Matthew mentions an angel rolling the stone away and sitting on it in view of the guards at the grave (Matt. 28:2-4). Mark speaks of the women seeing a young man sitting in the grave, clothed in a long white garment (Mark 16:5). John speaks of Mary Magdalene seeing two angels in white sitting inside the tomb (John 20:11-12). All four of these must have happened at different times, yet not far apart. It is good to see this abundant angelic testimony to the fact of the resurrection of Christ.

Notice that the second group of women spoken of here (compare John) see two angels. An earlier group had seen only one.

Instead of the dead body they found two men in dazzling clothing. From their lips they heard that the Lord was now "the living One" and not among the dead. So the first testimony to His resurrection came from the lips of angels. The words He Himself had spoken during His life gave a second testimony. He had predicted His death and His resurrection. When reminded of His words, they remembered them.

They were afraid. They were looking for a dead body — a shining stranger might well startle them. The angels had come straight from heaven, the witnesses of the risen and victorious Lord. They had not been thinking of that, so the angels made them afraid... That was a rebuke. Do you like to see love rebuked? It is not pleasant, but it is faithful. They were doing the work of love, but the work of unbelief too.

So they bring their spices and ointments to the tomb, and there the angels meet them. They were afraid. They were looking for a dead body — they might well be startled by a glittering stranger. The angels were fresh from heaven, the witnesses of the risen and victorious Lord. They had not been thinking of that, so the angels put them to fear... That was a rebuke. Do you like to see love rebuked? It is not pleasant, but it is faithful. They were about the business of love, but the business of unbelief too. So in everything God is proved right.

The women come before us first. They had no thoughts beyond an ordinary funeral. Their minds were on the tomb, His body, and the usual spices and ointments... Instead of the dead body they found two men in shining clothes. From their lips they heard that the Lord was now "the living One," not among the dead. So the first testimony to His resurrection came from the lips of angels.

But people, and even believers, are slow to value the resurrection. It brings God too near to them. Nothing marks Him out more than raising the dead. And resurrection from among the dead most of all must be taught by God Himself, since only He could reveal it in His grace. For it breaks into the whole course of the world. It shows a power above nature, victorious over Satan, that delivers even from God's judgment. And here it was the Deliverer Himself.

The day Luke 24 speaks of was the brightest day that had ever dawned on this poor sinful world. And yet... their hearts were the exact opposite of it. They were bowed down and broken in heart. They were disappointed and upset, with everything gone. His cross had killed all their hopes and His grave had buried them... In the eighth verse it says, "And they remembered his words."... their hearts had been leaky vessels for those words. His words had dropped through those poor leaky vessels and were gone. They had forgotten them... And how often it is so with you and me; we have forgotten His words.

The angels announce it (v. 4-8). They almost reproach the disciples for being so untrue to their special blessing that they still cling to earthly hopes, when they say, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead?" For us He is not in this world at all. So to expect to find Him here, or to tie Him to earthly hopes, is to seek the living One among the dead.

"The One who lives"! What could that mean to these downcast women? The One they were looking for was not there — He had risen! The tomb was empty and the spices and ointments were useless. But if He was alive again, then death's power was broken, and everything that could mean with it. A living, risen Christ — that is the starting point of real, living Christianity!

Now see the immediate effect on these very women. We read that "they came and held him by the feet and worshipped Him" (Matt. 28:9). Their perplexity gave place to worship, and their desolate hearts were filled with gladness.

The two angels reminded the women of what Christ had said in Galilee — that on the third day He would rise again. "And they remembered his words" (Luke 24:8). These words came to them at that moment. They confirmed what the open grave proclaimed and what the angels declared: "He is not here, but has risen."

"The One who lives"! What could that mean to these downcast women? The One they were looking for was not there, but was risen! The tomb was empty; the spices and ointments were useless. But if He were alive again, the power of death had been broken, along with everything that could mean.

They were looking for a dead body — they might well be startled by a shining stranger. The angels were fresh from heaven, the witnesses of the risen and victorious Lord. The women had not been thinking of that, so the angels frightened them. And they said, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee." That was a rebuke. Do you like to see love rebuked? It is not pleasant, but it is faithful. They were busy with the work of love, but with the work of unbelief too.

For us, He is not in this world at all. To expect to find Him here, or to try to tie Him to earthly hopes, is to seek the living One among the dead.

But people, and even saints, are slow to appreciate the resurrection. It brings God too near to them. Nothing is more characteristic of Him than raising the dead. And resurrection from among the dead most of all must be learned by divine teaching, since only He could reveal it in His grace. For this breaks in on the whole course of the world. It displays a power greater than nature, a power victorious over Satan, which delivers even from divine judgment.

First of all, it is very serious to think that the words of the Lord Jesus had been forgotten by them. The apostles' state seems to have been the darkest of all in this respect. The confusion of unbelief covered their hearts and minds. The news the women brought back from the tomb had no place with them; it all seemed like "idle tales."

"And they remembered His words" — and with that everything was changed for them... It is very good to see how they left the tomb at once when they remembered His words... How it shows us the power of the words of Jesus! Now we have them written, praise the Lord!

He was risen. But He had said this in advance, while in Galilee, before He even came up to Jerusalem: the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men.

In Matthew we have the angel in his majesty, a fitting royal attendant. In Mark we have a young man in a long white robe. Here we have two men. This suggests both the general theme of the Gospel of the Son of Man, and enough witness of His resurrection... The two then remind the women of His words when He was in Galilee. This part is unique to Luke and very instructive.

They were afraid. They were looking for a dead body — they might well be startled by a shining stranger. The angels were fresh from heaven, the witnesses of the risen and victorious Lord. They had not been thinking of that, so the angels put them to fear. And they said, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen: remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee." That was a rebuke. Do you like to see love rebuked? It is not pleasant, but it is faithful. They were about the business of love, but the business of unbelief too.

He was the Deliverer from Satan's power. The disciples were as nothing in the presence of the enemy. That was natural enough. But what shall we say when we hear that the Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men? Here unbelief is always at fault. It never knows how to put these two things together. It does seem a moral and mental contradiction that the mightiest of deliverers should look like the weakest of all beings, delivered into the hands of men, His own creatures! But so it must be. If a sinner was to be saved for eternity, and if the grace of God was to make a righteous basis for justifying the ungodly, then Jesus, the Son of Man, must be delivered into the hands of man. And then a far fiercer fire must burn — the divine judgment, when God made Him sin for us.

These verses bring two things together so closely that we can hardly separate them. There is the Lord's treatment at the hands of sinful men, and there is His bearing our sins under the hand of a holy and righteous God. Both happened at the same time, when our Lord allowed Himself to be taken by wicked hands and crucified. Yet we must be clear: not one thing that men did to Him had any part in the work of redemption.

But men, and even saints, are slow to appreciate the resurrection. It brings God too near to them. Of all things, none is more characteristic of Him than raising the dead. Above all, resurrection from among the dead has to be learned by divine teaching, since only He could reveal it in His grace. Resurrection breaks in upon the whole course of the world. It displays a power greater than nature, victorious over Satan, and it delivers even from divine judgment. Here it was the Deliverer Himself. He had often told the disciples of it, and He had even named the third day. Yet those who were most faithful did not understand at the time, and so did not remember afterwards — not until the fact had taken place and heavenly messengers recalled His words to them again.

"And they remembered His words"; and so everything changed for them. They can now put on the garments of praise. It is very blessed to see how they left the tomb at once when they remembered His words… How it shows us the power of the words of Jesus! Now we have them written, praise the Lord! We have them in what is called the "Word of God." We have the very words of Jesus.

The Living One was not with the dead. He was risen, as He said. Joy must have filled their hearts, and have given wings to their feet. But who believed them? The apostles heard the women, but could not credit their report. It was just idle talk.

But men, and even believers, are slow to value the resurrection. It brings God too near to them. Nothing is more characteristic of Him than raising the dead. And resurrection from among the dead must above all be learned by divine teaching, since only He could reveal it in His grace. It breaks in on the whole course of the world. It shows a power above nature, victorious over Satan, that delivers even from divine judgment. Here it was the Deliverer Himself. He had often told the disciples of it; He had even named the third day. Yet those who were most faithful did not understand at the time. And they did not remember afterwards either — not until it had happened, and heavenly messengers brought His words back to them again.

The Galilean women came to the tomb and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. There they saw two angels. The angels reminded them of what Christ had said in Galilee: that on the third day He would rise again. "And they remembered his words" (Luke 24:8). These words came to them at that moment. They confirmed what the open grave proclaimed and what the angels declared: "He is not here, but has risen."

"And they remembered his words." This last point always matters greatly to Luke. He stresses the value of every part of God's word, and above all the words of Jesus.

"And they remembered His words"; and so everything changed for them: they can now put on the garments of praise. It is very blessed to see how they left the tomb at once when they remembered His words... They "returned from the tomb" (v. 9). That is one great change already made. How it shows us the power of the words of Jesus! Now we have them written, praise the Lord! We have them in what is called the "Word of God." We have the very words of Jesus.

Oh, what a voice all this has for us; for how often do we forget His words and sayings! Is there one here tonight who has forgotten His words? That is why you are sad — full of gloom and hopelessness. You have forgotten the Saviour's words; they have ebbed away out of your hearts. Is it any wonder, then, that your heart is miserable and your soul confused?

So if you commit parts of the Bible to memory, you clearly prepare yourself. Help and comfort from the Scriptures will then be there when you most need them. For instance, the verses you read or learned this morning may not have a direct application to you today. Days and weeks may pass; and then in a moment of sharp trial they will come to you, like the arm of a strong man, to lean upon. But they would not come to you like that if you had not previously learned or read them.

"And they remembered His words"; and so everything was changed for them: they can now put on the garments of praise. It is very blessed to see how they left the tomb at once when they remembered His words. They returned from the tomb. How it shows us the power of the words of Jesus! Now we have them written, praise the Lord! We have them in what is called the "Word of God." We have the very words of Jesus.

Their hearts had been leaky vessels as to those words. His words had dropped through those poor leaky vessels and were gone. They had forgotten them. For the Lord had often spoken of it. There was plenty of testimony that He would be killed by men, by His own people, and raised up again the third day. But they had forgotten it all. And how often it is so with you and me; we have forgotten His words.

The women returned and told all these things to the eleven. That is, they gave them the evidence of the angels, of the Lord's own words, and of their own eyes: the body was not in the tomb. Yet they did not believe. The modern sceptic might call these things "idle tales;" well, that was just how they appeared to the disciples.

There was no real faith in the resurrection. But there was enough to fill their hearts and send them to tell the disciples what they had seen and heard. These faithful women, faithful even if ignorant, were not forgotten by the Lord. The service of those whom the Lord sent may have overshadowed them. Yet His ways are grace, and He has kept the memory of them, and of their early seeking of the Lord.

Verse 12 is also given as a confirming fact. It comes after the very vague general statement about all the women telling the apostles and all the rest. They were about one hundred and twenty, men and women. These preparatory facts are really almost introductory to the account of the journey to Emmaus.

It has been observed that women were employed as the first heralds to announce the Lord's resurrection. Granted... We know that the women were commissioned by the angel to advise the eleven of the empty tomb. We know that they discharged their mission faithfully.

"An idle tale." Writers today use a now familiar word for the women's report: they call it "legend." It is worth noticing that the disciples said it first. They called the report λῆρος, a fable. But those honest men soon had to cross the line, pull down the bridges behind them and burn their boats.

You may think it a strange thing that the testimony of these dear, devoted women was not believed. Make what you like of it, but it was so. In fact, the Spirit of God tells us that people treated their testimony as "idle tales." That testimony was the resurrection of Jesus, the victory of redeeming love, the witness to all that His death accomplished. When it was first announced, even His own people called it an idle tale. Little wonder there is unbelief today.

Would you call the apostles Corinthians, who used intellectual reasoning to deny the resurrection? Or Sadducees, the corrupt sect that denied the resurrection? I could not say that... How then do you account for their unbelief? Ah, it is hard to believe that God is doing your business in this world. It is much easier for us to do Christ's business than to believe that He has done ours. Not one form of human religion takes up that thought. So it was with the disciples. They could bring their spices and their ointments. But they were not yet able to believe the mighty fact that He had been doing their business... We will spend our days in penances, but we will not trust Him.

They did not really have faith in the resurrection, but they had enough to fill their hearts and to make them tell the disciples what they had seen and heard. These women were faithful, even if they did not understand. The Lord did not forget them. Even if the service of those whom He sent overshadowed theirs, He, whose ways are grace, has preserved their memorial and their early seeking of the Lord.

But God's wisdom is seen in this. It tested whether the disciples believed Christ's own words, which the angels' report to the women confirmed. Moreover, the cynicism of the disciples is clear proof that they had no thought of inventing a false story of resurrection to deceive the world.

If they had been credulous, eager to believe any tale they heard, one could understand that their testimony would carry no weight. But when disciples who were slow to believe the astounding news of our Lord's resurrection were convinced of its truth by undeniable evidence, their testimony should not be denied.

No doubt they were amazed, but they went home. Nothing they did matched the immense fact of the resurrection. Why? Because as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead. Scripture is now the resting place for faith. No matter what the external evidence, there is no true faith apart from the written word. The disciples had known neither His word nor the written word.

He had slept when he ought to have watched and prayed. Then, when the crisis came, he denied his Master — and the denial was all the worse because it came after His solemn warning. But he was not a Judas — very far indeed from it. He loved the Lord, and the Lord Himself knew that he loved Him. So, despite his deep and shameful sin, news he could not explain stirred his heart: the body had disappeared from the tomb. It was Peter's eagerness — burning not less now, but more, from the sense of his recent wrong — that drove him not merely to take a glance, but to go in and look at everything closely.

Still, Peter was seriously interested, and ran to the grave. It was likely at this time that John also ran there (John 20:3-10), but Luke's interest centres on the grace of God at work in Peter's heart with a view to his restoration.

What clear evidence this gives that the body had not been taken away by enemies any more than by friends! Why should either leave the linen wrappings behind? Who but someone rising from sleep would arrange the coverings in this calm and orderly way? It must have been His own doing as He rose from among the dead. He laid aside what did not suit His new condition, and what He no longer needed. Here we may contrast the very different way Lazarus appeared when the Lord raised him. That difference points to the different character of the Resurrection.

The linen cloths are lying by themselves, and the head cloth is in its place. Everything looks as natural as the bed a man leaves after a night's sleep. It was not as though the clothing had been taken off Him, but as though He had gone out of it.

The women returned and told the eleven apostles all these things. They laid out the evidence of the angels, of the Lord's own words, and of their own eyes: the body was not in the tomb. Yet they did not believe. A modern sceptic might call these things "idle tales"; that is just how they appeared to the disciples. Peter, however, with his usual impulsiveness, went a step further. He ran to the tomb to see for himself, and what he saw confirmed their words so far. Yet in his mind wonder, rather than faith, was stirred.

Still, there was no depth in the conviction Peter could not help forming. He returned home, wondering at what had happened. Wonder is in no way the expression of the intelligence that faith gives; it rather implies the clear lack of it.

They did not know the scriptures which declared that it must be so. Sadly, Jesus did not have their hearts, and the word did not have their understanding. They go to their own homes; they look no further; they are astonished, John at least convinced. Understanding from God did not enlighten them, and love for Christ did not move them: they went to their own homes.

John 20:5 speaks of Peter's first visit, when "the disciple whom Jesus loved" went with him. Luke is speaking of the second visit, made alone, which came out of the report of the angels' words. On returning from this later visit, Peter met the Lord.

A village about sixty furlongs from Jerusalem — that is, about 7 miles. The two disciples were travelling there on the day of the resurrection, and the Lord made Himself known to them. Some identify it with ruins at Khamaseh, about 8 miles south-west of Jerusalem; others with el Kubeibeh, about 7½ miles north-west. But there is nothing to settle which.

It is of no consequence who the unnamed one may have been. They were disciples shaken by the crucifixion of the Messiah. Grace would comfort them, founding their faith on the Word, and giving the saints to see the unseen Jesus — the One they did not know while they looked with natural eyes. Some have supposed that the companion of Cleopas was Nathanael; others have been sure he was Peter. We may rest assured that they were mistaken, and that he could not have been an apostle. When the two returned to Jerusalem, they found "the eleven" among those gathered together (verse 33). The great point is the Lord's grace. He led them out of human thoughts to Himself as the Object of all the Scriptures — the One who first suffers and then enters His glory.

Two disciples were travelling to Emmaus (possibly meaning "in earnest longing"), away from Jerusalem and the temple. Luke 24:13 suggests that when they left Jerusalem, they also left the whole man-made Judaic system. God gave that system at first, but it had become a human religion. By rejecting their own Messiah it shut out the very God who had given it. On paper the two disciples were still in Judaism. But when they came back (v. 33), they stood on different ground with the other disciples. The risen Lord taught them, so they might be a testimony to Jews and Gentiles (v. 47).

They had very strong expectations centred on the Messiah, and they believed they had found Him in Jesus... They did think that "he was the one to redeem Israel," but to them that meant redeeming them by power from all their national foes, rather than redeeming them to God by His blood. His death had shattered their hopes of this redemption by power and by glory. Their disappointment grew out of hopes they had cherished which the Word of God never supported. They expected the glory without the sufferings.

They were occupied with their own thoughts about Christ rather than God's thoughts. Their minds were full of human thoughts, so they could not grasp divine thoughts — they were "slow of heart to believe" all that the prophets have spoken. Unbelief was at the back of their disappointment. Unbelief turned their feet away from the Lord's people; unbelief set their tongues reasoning, filled their hearts with sadness, and held their eyes fast closed so that they could not discern the Lord.

He sends no messenger to call these straying saints back to His presence. When all goes well with His people, angels, apostles, prophets and others may carry out His commands, as we know from many fine scenes recorded in the Word. But is there a wandering sheep — dejected and disappointed? Then look: "JESUS HIMSELF" will draw near to restore... How different, sadly, is the way we often take with one another. Does a brother wander away from us? How quick we are to draw away from him. But on the day the Emmaus disciples drew away, Jesus Himself drew near. What a Saviour! When we were far away He came near, and when we draw away He draws near.

Their hearts were deeply interested in Christ. God has been careful to tell us what they were speaking about. They could think of nothing else, though I do not doubt they were bewildered by what had happened to the One they loved.

When He asked them what they were talking about, they said, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth." They were disappointed, yet the topic of their conversation was Jesus.

They dwelt on their own thoughts about Christ instead of God's thoughts. Their minds were full of human thoughts, so they could not take in God's thoughts. They were "slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken." Unbelief lay behind their disappointment. Unbelief turned their feet away from the Lord's people. Unbelief set their tongues reasoning, filled their hearts with sadness, and held their eyes shut so that they could not recognise the Lord. And what was the unbelieving thought that filled their minds? Simply this: they wanted to bring Christ back into their own circumstances, for glory now, and for ease and blessing on earth.

Their minds were full of the things that had happened. Their intellect was at work, and they reasoned. There seems to be no self-will or stubbornness in the way they acted. But they were very sad at heart, and deeply puzzled.

Malachi 3:16 speaks of those who fear the Lord talking often with one another, while the Lord listens and hears. Later these two could have said how blessed that was, but their blessing was greater. For the Lord came near, talked with them, and walked with them. What joy it must have been to Him to watch these two taken up with Him!

Remember, they belonged to the company at Jerusalem, but they were not in their place. They were walking away, as if it was all over and lost. Things had turned out very differently from what they expected, and they were disappointed. Is this not a picture of many today?… Did the Lord forget these two wanderers, as they talked together of all these things that had happened? No. It was while they talked and reasoned like this that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.

He sends no messenger to call these straying believers back to His presence… But if there is a wandering sheep — downcast and disappointed — look, "JESUS HIMSELF" will draw near to restore… Sadly, the way we often take with one another is very different. Does a fellow believer wander away from us? How quick we are to draw away from him. But on the day these two drew away, Jesus Himself drew near. What a Saviour! When we were far away He came near, and when we draw away He draws near.

"Slow of heart" and unbelieving — yes, indeed. The glory of that lowly Man as the Christ of God, the subject of all the Scriptures, had not lit up their beings. But they were speaking together of Him… How should we answer the question, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other?" If our minds and hearts were firmly fixed on our Lord, and on the glories of His person which He has shown us, we would speak less of the failures and divisions among His people, except in secret prayer and confession. We would speak more of Himself and His interests.

Now I ask you to notice that little word "himself." I think the great point of Luke 24 is "himself." Soon you will find, "He explained to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27). A little later we find, "Jesus himself stood among them" (Luke 24:36). And then again, "See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself" (Luke 24:39). The great point is a risen Man, the same Jesus, but risen. That is undoubtedly the point of the evangelist in this chapter.

No messenger is sent to call these straying saints back to His presence. When all goes well with His people, angels, apostles, prophets and others may carry out His orders. We know this well from many a fine scene recorded in the Word. But is there a wandering sheep — dejected and disappointed? Then look, "JESUS HIMSELF" will draw near to restore. No stranger can share in the work that goes on between a wandering saint and "Jesus Himself." … But on the day the Emmaus saints drew away, Jesus Himself drew near. What a Saviour! When we were far away He came near, and when we draw away He draws near.

Their hearts were deeply interested in Christ. God has been careful to tell us what they were speaking about. They could think of nothing else, though I have no doubt they were bewildered by what had happened to the One they loved.

Let us remember that they belonged to the company at Jerusalem, but they were not in their place. They were walking away, as if everything were over and lost. Things turned out very differently from what they expected, and they were deeply disappointed. Is this not a picture of many today? They belong to the church of God, the assembly. They are members of the body of Christ. But as to their position they are so sad, from reasoning about the things that have happened, that although they belong to it — "two of them" — they are walking with their backs to the assembly and their faces towards Emmaus.

We have examples in the New Testament of His close acquaintance with the thoughts and conversation of His people. He gave Ananias a commission about Saul of Tarsus. He repeated to doubting Thomas the words Thomas had spoken to his fellow disciples. Both show that our words never escape His ears. And the journey of the two disciples to Emmaus, when He Himself drew near and walked with them, tells us how interested He is in everything that concerns His own — yes, even in their doubts and fears.

He might have gone to Jerusalem and convinced the leaders of the people that He was indeed the Christ. He might have gone to Pilate and convinced him that he had crucified an innocent Person. But He did neither. There were those two discouraged disciples who had lost their faith. They were turning their backs on the place where He would meet His own. His heart went out in sympathy and pity towards them, so He joins Himself to their company. Are you sad? Are you full of anxiety? The Lord knows that. He wants to make His presence a great reality to you.

He Himself knew all their thoughts and the cause of their trouble. Yet by His questions He draws out what was in their minds. In other words, He led them to empty their hearts before He speaks a single word. He might have said at once, "Here I am, risen from the dead." But He first sought to bring their souls into a right state to grasp the truth of His resurrection.

Now you see the purpose of their eyes being held until this moment. Suppose they had recognised Him, known Him, and accepted Him earlier. That would have confirmed all the Jewish thoughts and hopes that were so alive in their souls. They are to know Him as the One who died, the One who passed through death.

The holding of the disciples' eyes was of importance. In the state they were in, to recognise Jesus would have satisfied their own thoughts. Instead the Lord won their hearts with all that God had said of Him, and gave them understanding of the Scriptures. Then, in an act of close friendship that recalled the great truth of His death, He brought His great deliverance to mind. "We walk by faith, not by sight."

It is plain they had failed in faith. The Lord's words were a rebuke; His slowness to give them what they asked was a greater rebuke still.

They were of the company at Jerusalem, but not in their place. They were walking away, as if everything were over and lost. Things had turned out very differently from what they expected. They were sadly disappointed.

Is there a wandering sheep — dejected and disappointed? Then look: "Jesus Himself" will draw near to restore… But in the day that the Emmaus saints drew away, Jesus Himself drew near. What a Saviour! When we were far away He came near, and when we draw away He draws near.

He might have gone to Jerusalem and convinced the leaders of the people that He was indeed the Christ. He might have gone to Pilate and convinced him that he had crucified an innocent Person. But He did neither. Instead there were those two disheartened disciples who had lost their faith. They had turned their backs on the place where He would meet His own. His heart went out to them in sympathy and pity.

He appears to them, as Mark says, "in another form"… The suggestion is that in resurrection He was not on the same plane as before, but on a higher one, where then and now faith alone can grasp Him… In Matthew He promises, "behold, I am with you always." Is that not an assurance that He is with His people in person, even if our eyes are held so that we do not recognise Him — our blessed, risen Lord?

Have you ever noticed that their eyes were "held" in verse 16, and their eyes were "opened" in Luke 24:31? Now, dear friends, why was that? Many things are allowed to come in and hinder the soul… I tell you what will open the eyes — a burning heart. When your affection is right you will very soon see things.

Here, in Mark, the disciples' unwillingness to believe Mary's testimony is given prominence, and also their unwillingness to believe the two who had travelled that day to Emmaus... The state of the disciples when Mary came to them we also learn only here. "They mourned and wept" (v. 10). This fits perfectly with the behaviour of Cleopas and his companion, who, when a Man they took for a stranger spoke to them, "stood still, looking sad."

Their backs were toward Jerusalem. They had satisfied themselves that His body was not in the tomb. Their faces were toward Emmaus. It was the third day, and it was all over. No wonder their hearts were sad.

What was the root of the disappointment of the Emmaus disciples? This — they were occupied with their own thoughts about Christ rather than God's thoughts. Their minds were filled with human thoughts, so they could not grasp divine thoughts. They were "slow of heart to believe" all that the prophets have spoken. Unbelief was behind their disappointment. Unbelief turned their feet away from the Lord's people. Unbelief set their tongues reasoning. It filled their hearts with sadness. It held their eyes shut, so that they could not recognise the Lord.

They had decided between themselves that it was no longer any use trying to stand for the One they had followed. Everything had failed. The One they supposed was to redeem Israel had been crucified like the worst of criminals. They thought that was the end, and so they had lost hope. But it was not that they had expected too much of the Lord Jesus — they did not expect enough.

Notice the way the Lord deals with these two erring saints. It should be a great help to all who seek to shepherd the Lord's people, and to those who are pastors by a divine gift. He Himself knew all their thoughts and the cause of their trouble. Yet by His questions He draws out what was in their minds. In other words, He led them to empty their hearts before He speaks a single word. He might have said at once, "Here am I, risen from the dead." But first He sought to bring them into a right state of soul, so that they could take in the truth of His resurrection.

He replies, "What things?" How skilful His love is in drawing out their hearts! Well He knew, but there is nothing so skilful in this world as love, nothing.

He sends no messenger to call these straying saints back to His presence... Is there a wandering sheep — dejected and disappointed? Look: "JESUS HIMSELF" will draw near to restore... How different, sadly, is the way we often treat one another. Does a brother wander away from us? How quick we are to draw away from him. But on the day the Emmaus saints drew away, Jesus Himself drew near. What a Saviour! When we were far away He came near, and when we draw away He draws near.

The Lord delights in reality, in truthfulness of heart. These disciples, as they walked, were sad. That sadness was real; it was the feeling that matched their circumstances, as they judged them to be... And Jesus loves that reality. Jesus loves that everything about us should have the stamp of truth in the inward parts. And He joins Himself to these sad ones. He shows them that the things which had happened at Jerusalem, as they were saying, were really for them, and not against them. He makes what was shaking their faith confirm it.

This use of the Scriptures by our Lord is very significant. The word of God is the truest, deepest, weightiest testimony. That is so even though the risen Jesus Himself was there, the living demonstration of it in person... The word of God — here the Old Testament interpreted by Jesus — is the most valuable means for finding out the mind of God.

He was one of the two disciples walking to Emmaus on the day of the resurrection, when the Lord drew near and talked with them. He is thought to be the same person as Cleophas (or Clopas in the Greek), mentioned in John 19:25.

He remarked on that sadness as He asked what they had been talking about. Sadly, unbelief was the cause of both. If only they had believed what they had so often heard, they would have escaped all of it — the reasoning, the sadness, and the weary walk.

So Scripture gives no ground at all for the claim that when He "asked for information, it was because He wanted it" — that is, because He did not know. You do not need to study Socrates to know that a question can be put for the sake of the person questioned. Luke 24:18-19 shows it clearly. The Lord's "What things?" did not come from ignorance of His own recent sufferings. He asked only to teach the two disciples.

He Himself knew all their thoughts and the cause of their trouble. Yet He used His questions to draw out what was in their minds. In other words, He led them to empty their hearts before He speaks a single word. He might have said at once, "Here am I, risen from the dead." But He sought first to bring them into a right state of soul, ready to take in the truth of His resurrection.

The Lord sometimes puts Himself in our company so that we may learn just where we are in the history of our souls. He likes us to be real and genuine... And what does He find here? I have no doubt this was very attractive to His heart: a sad couple who understood little, yet a couple deeply interested in Him and in His things.

Little did Cleopas know how deeply acquainted this "Stranger" was with these things. What follows shows it. Their hearts burned as the unknown speaker drew them like a magnet to the Scriptures they had overlooked in unbelief.

He truly was a "Stranger in Jerusalem." The city refused her rightful Lord, rejected Him, crucified Him. He, for whom there was no room in the inn, and who had nowhere to lay His head, was pushed aside for Barabbas the robber. For His love He received hatred... Yet He who is a stranger in Jerusalem seeks to be a resident in the hearts of His people.

The accuracy and light of the Scriptures showed where men, and even believers, had overlooked much. The Jews had been content with the general testimony to the nation's hopes and the glory of the kingdom. But, as the Lord showed them, they had passed by what was deeper and now most essential — the sufferings of Christ. He drew the evidence from the written Word of the Old Testament, rather than resting on present facts alone or on His own fresh revelations.

Everyone who seeks to care for the Lord's people, and everyone who is a pastor by a gift from God, should find great help in watching how the Lord dealt with these two straying believers. He knew all their thoughts and the cause of their trouble, yet He used questions to draw out what was in their minds. In other words, He led them to empty their hearts before He spoke a single word. He could have said at once, "Here am I, risen from the dead." But He first wanted to bring their souls into the right state to understand the truth of His resurrection.

He answers, "What things?" How skilful His love is at drawing out their hearts! He knew well enough, but there is nothing in this world so skilful as love, nothing… Now you can see how much they knew, and what their hearts were tied to concerning His Person.

What abundant testimony we have in Scripture that the Christ was the Prophet (see Luke 24:19; John 3:2; 4:19; 6:14; 9:17; 7:40; Acts 2:22; 3:22). Now, a prophet was known by two things — what he said, and what he did. No one ever spoke like Christ. He spoke as one who had authority, and His word was always with power. No one ever did such miracles as He did.

They simply stated the facts about Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet mighty in deed and word, not only in the eyes of the people, but "before God" — something no honest mind could fail to see. They also knew that the chief priests and rulers were fully responsible for handing Him over to be condemned, and for crucifying Him. They did not mention Rome or Pilate.

To them Jesus of Nazareth was "a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people," and there their faith stopped. They did not yet see in Him the Son of God whom death could not hold. So to them His death was the sad end of His story… Their disappointment grew out of hopes they had cherished that the Word of God never gave them. They expected the glory without the sufferings.

He drew out their thoughts to lead them into the truth. The sorrows of His rejection seemed to them impossible to explain, and quite against what they expected. He wanted them to see that the Word of God required those very sorrows. Then those sorrows would confirm their faith instead of endangering it. They had looked for redemption by power. Now, in His suffering to the very end, the Just for the unjust, they learn redemption by blood — and not only that, but a new life out of death, and greater than death.

But what was the root of the disappointment of the Emmaus disciples? This — their minds were full of their own thoughts about Christ instead of God's thoughts… Unbelief turned their feet away from the Lord's people. Unbelief set their tongues reasoning, filled their hearts with sadness, and held their eyes shut, so that they could not recognise the Lord.

They saw how fully the chief priests and rulers were responsible for handing Him over to be condemned, and for crucifying Him. They did not mention either Rome or Pilate.

Jesus had to be condemned by man in every role — religious and civil. The Jews, acting in the name of religion, carried the chief guilt. They stirred up the civil authorities and pressed them to give in against their own conscience, as we see in the mock trial before Pilate. So we see He was "despised and rejected by men." Not by one class of men only, but by every class.

His crucifixion, death and burial fill their whole conversation as they walk along, sad. Their love for Him is strong, and as deep as it is real. But faith is missing, so they are cast down and full of sorrow. Their minds fret and their spirits are wounded by what He suffered at the hands of sinful men.

Their hearts had been leaky jars for those words. His words had dripped through those poor leaky jars and were gone; they had forgotten them. The Lord had often spoken of it. There was plenty of testimony to the fact that He would be killed by men, by His own people, and raised up again the third day. But they had forgotten it all.

They had their favourite texts, and those texts spoke of the great power of the Messiah — power that would crush their enemies and make them the head of the nations. These they read and cherished and loved. But the texts that spoke of His sorrows, how well He knew grief, His humiliation, rejection and death — these they had neither understood nor believed.

But He drew out their thoughts to lead them into the truth. The sorrows of His rejection seemed impossible to explain, and the opposite of all they expected. He wanted them to see that God's Word itself called for those sorrows, so that the cross would confirm their faith instead of endangering it. They had looked for redemption by power. Now, in His suffering to the uttermost, the Just for the unjust, they learn redemption by blood. And not only this: in Him God shows us a new life out of death, a life greater than death, and makes it ours.

No messenger is sent to call these straying believers back to His presence. When all goes well with His people, angels, apostles, prophets and others may carry out His orders, as we know well from many a fine scene in the Word. But is there a wandering sheep — downcast and disappointed? Then "JESUS HIMSELF" will draw near to restore… In the day that the Emmaus believers drew away, Jesus Himself drew near. What a Saviour! When we were far away He came near, and when we draw away He draws near.

We can hardly imagine the expectations stirred in them by the coming of Israel's Messiah. Visions filled their eyes: freedom from the Roman yoke, a national revival, glory and splendour under David's Son. They expected a large share in it themselves. "We had hoped," they said, "that He was the one to redeem Israel." Now that vision lay shattered. He did not take David's throne and overthrow Caesar. Instead, Caesar's soldiers lifted Him up on a cross, and the whole people fastened Caesar's yoke on their own necks more firmly than ever. They said openly, "We have no king but Caesar." Sick at heart, and unable to solve the riddle of His claims, which they accepted, and of His sudden and dramatic disappearance, Cleopas and his companion were on the point of giving up their discipleship and going home.

Their thought was the redemption of Israel by power. They had no idea of a new and heavenly life, though of course they had it. Even for the Christ, death had to come in, so that God would be vindicated and man really blessed. Moses and all the prophets had taught this.

The blood of His cross made peace in God's mind. To their minds it was still bitter anguish and cruel disappointment. His words had fallen on ears still deaf to the meaning of His death. They did not know the Scripture that He must suffer in this way, so that they, or anyone, might have redemption. On the resurrection day the downcast pair on the way to Emmaus showed the state of them all. They said to Him, "We had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel." Yet that was the very thing for which He had laid the effective and everlasting basis!

To their own thoughts they were thrown on the world, friendless and fatherless, orphans indeed. The third day had brought them almost nothing of the light of His resurrection morning. They only mention the day to Him as the measure of how far His death had left them deserted. "It is now the third day since these things happened."

They give their account, showing at once their faith and how their whole souls were taken up with the Lord. It must have refreshed His blessed heart to hear them speak like this. Despite their ignorance and disappointment, and despite the weakness of their faith, love to Him was there. "We had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel" tells not of a dead hope, but a sleeping one.

Disappointed people have some little "Israel" of their own that fills their thoughts, just as Cleopas did. If Israel had been redeemed just as Cleopas expected, he would have been overjoyed. It was not so, and he lost his enthusiasm and interest. He had to learn that although Israel stood right at the centre of the bright little picture his imagination had painted, it was not at the centre of God's picture. God's picture is the real one, and its centre is Christ risen from the dead. Jesus joined them, drew out their thoughts and won their confidence. Then He opened up to them not things concerning Israel, but "things concerning HIMSELF." The sure cure for disappointment is to have Christ filling every picture our minds hold — not work, not even Christian work, not fellow believers, nor even the church, not self in any of its many forms, but Christ.

The Jewish sabbath came in between and stopped the women's preparations. This was of God, for those preparations were completely unnecessary. By the time the women could take them up again, the sacred body was not to be found. Instead of the dead body they found two men in shining garments. From their lips they heard that the Lord was now "the living One" and not among the dead. So the first testimony to His resurrection came from the lips of angels. A second testimony came from the words He Himself had spoken during His life. He had predicted His death and His resurrection. When reminded of His words, they remembered them.

The announcement comes by angels, and that fact alone gives it an air of distance. The reserve and reproof running through the message make that distance greater. They do not even promise a meeting with Him: He is alive; had He not told them He would rise? Why seek the living One among the dead? The women are confused and terrified; the apostles doubt: these are tales, idle tales, born in the minds of excitable, dreamy women.

Comparing the Gospels, we find, first, that the disciples were all in great perplexity. They had no idea of resurrection. John tells us this plainly, and the same thing shows in what the two on the road to Emmaus admit… Some people believed particular details, or facts, but no one understood the great truth.

The apostles would not accept the word of the women about the resurrection of the Lord. The women no doubt repeated what the angels said, that the Lord had declared long before that He would be crucified and rise again the third day. The disciples probably asked, if He were raised, why had no one seen Him alive? But God's wisdom shows here. It was a test of the disciples' faith in Christ's own words, backed up by the angels' report to the women. And the cynicism of the disciples is clear proof that they had no thought of inventing a false story of resurrection to deceive the world.

The empty tomb would have been a precious gift to faith, and it was enough for John (John 20:8). The testimony of the angels would have been stronger testimony. But the crown of all was to see Him, to handle Him, to watch Him eat, to hear Him speak. This was indeed the full fruit.

Jesus hears their sad story from their own lips. He brings out the state of their hearts. Then He opens the Scriptures, instead of just pointing to the facts as evidence. This use of the Scriptures by our Lord is very significant. The word of God is the truest, deepest, weightiest testimony — even when the risen Jesus Himself is there as its living proof in person.

So already, without their knowing it, a resurrection faith was dawning in them. It needed only the confirmation of the Word to set their hearts burning, and to make them ready for the risen Lord to appear to them Himself.

Cleopas ended his explanation by saying that men who went to the grave had confirmed that the Lord's body was gone. But they had not seen Him. You may wonder why these two left Jerusalem without waiting to see how it all turned out. But discouragement was a strong influence — and too often it still is with us.

For themselves apparently satisfied with this negative proof of the resurrection, they return to their own home.

There was yet more. Some of the disciples went to the tomb as well and found it just as the women had said. Then Cleopas added the words that held the cause of all their grief: "But Him they did not see."

They had seen the empty tomb. They had listened to the angel. But Jesus they had not seen. As we read in Luke's Gospel, "Him they did not see." Apart from Christ Himself, the great stone rolled away, the empty tomb and the vision of angels only leave us trembling and amazed.

Peter and John were slow in the same way. The resurrection was plain when they entered the empty tomb. The folded napkin and the careful order of the linen clothes showed that nobody had secretly taken the body of Jesus away. He had risen by His own power. No doubt they were amazed, but they went home. Nothing they did matched the immense fact of the resurrection. Why? Because they still did not know the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead. Scripture is now the resting-place for faith. No matter what the external evidence, there is no true faith apart from the written word.

Mary mistook Him for the gardener, and these two take Him for a stranger in Israel. The third day had brought so little of the light of His resurrection morning into their thoughts. They mention the day to Him only as the measure of how deserted His death had left them.

Jesus hears this tale of sorrow from their lips. He brings out the state of their hearts. Then He opens the Scriptures, instead of just appealing to the facts as evidence. This use of the Scriptures by our Lord is very significant. The word of God is the truest, deepest, weightiest testimony — even when the risen Jesus Himself was there as its living demonstration in person.

The written Word was enough to have taught them everything that had happened. He first rebuked them for being slow of heart to believe it, and then turned them to it. He would settle their faith on what God had already given. He gave them no fresh revelation. They must stand on the written word of God... What He sought for those two, He still seeks: that souls should take God at His word, and rest on what He has revealed.

This unusual Stranger spoke to them tenderly and faithfully, with surprising words: "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!" (v.25). Their own lack of faith in the Word of God had led to their discouragement. After all, the Old Testament prophets had given clear witness to the sufferings and death of the Messiah of Israel.

Such is the real secret of unbelief in believers. They fail because they do not believe all. With only a partial view of divine truth, they easily exaggerate one point or another. And since they do not read Christ throughout Scripture, they tend to dodge the rejection in the world that disciples must accept, or at least go through, if they follow the Master. They will share His glory later on just as surely.

They had their favourite texts and dwelt on them. They had not taken in all the Scriptures, and had not realised that He was the theme of them all. If we realise that, we shall pay greater attention to the Scriptures. We shall read them more often, and not stay with our favourite texts.

There was one thing they all seemed to fail to grasp about Christ, and that was the necessity of His sufferings. It was foretold that the Christ was to be the centre of all the coming glory. But it was also foretold — and this is where the difficulty came, a difficulty with thoughtful Jews even today — that "the Christ must suffer." They could believe all those glowing prophecies about Him, the throne, the dominion and the glory. But when it was said He would be wounded for their transgressions and bruised for their iniquities, they seemed unable to connect that with the Messiah, the Christ who is yet to reign so gloriously.

They were occupied with their own thoughts about Christ instead of God's thoughts. With minds full of human thoughts they were unable to grasp divine thoughts — they were "slow of heart to believe" all that the prophets have spoken. Unbelief lay behind their disappointment. Unbelief turned their feet away from the Lord's people. Unbelief set their tongues reasoning, filled their hearts with sadness, and held their eyes shut, so that they could not recognise the Lord.

Finding out what is in our hearts does not restore us, important as that is in the work of restoration. We do need true thoughts of our own hearts, to learn how we wander onto a wrong path. But we must have true thoughts of His heart, so that our feet may be brought back to a right path. This is the way the Lord takes with the two disciples. Having exposed all that was in their hearts, He reveals all that is in His heart. And revealing what is in His heart turns their "slow hearts" into "burning hearts."

The theme here is "Himself," and truly His name runs like a golden thread through every part of God's Word. Oh, dear friends, have your hearts found that out? Christ is the centre of Scripture; He is the centre of all the thoughts and purposes and counsels of God. If you do not have Christ simply before your soul you can never understand the Scriptures.

Sadly, these days a man is counted a fool if he does believe all that the prophets have spoken. In many learned circles — and in not a few religious circles too — the man who says openly, as every true man should, that he believes every line of Holy Scripture with all his heart will almost surely meet a sneer of contempt.

There was one thing they all seemed to fail to grasp about Christ, and that was the necessity of His sufferings. It was foretold that the Christ was to be the centre of all the coming glory. But it was also foretold — and this is where the difficulty came — that the Christ must suffer. They might believe all those glowing prophecies about Him: the throne, the dominion and the glory. But when the prophets said He was going to be pierced for their transgressions and crushed for their iniquities, they seemed unable to connect that with the Messiah who is yet to reign so gloriously.

In the world as it is, Christ could not help but suffer; and everyone who is perfected shall be as He is. It is morally inevitable. God's own nature makes it so, and the Word requires it as well. It could not be otherwise, God being what He is, and man a sinner held in bondage to the enemy.

He has indeed come — but not to claim those rights. Instead He let man have his hour, and let the power of darkness assert itself, so that He might carry out redemption by His death. Satan, who has wickedly seized the crown, even offered it to Him during the temptation in the wilderness. He refused it. He would not take that short and easy way to glory. He chose the hard road that lay through death and resurrection.

He drew out their thoughts to lead them into the truth. The sorrows of His rejection seemed impossible to explain, and did not fit what they expected. Yet He led them to see that the divine Word itself required those sorrows... They had looked for redemption by power. Now, in His suffering to the very limit, the Just for the unjust, they learn redemption by blood. And not this only: a new life out of death and above it, given to us in Him, with Satan's power in sin and its consequences defeated for ever.

What glory is this? He is Himself the Source and Centre of glory, so nothing could be added to Him. But His death and resurrection brought a whole new order of things into being. He takes His place at the Head of that, in the full power of redemption glory.

His glory is the consequence of His sufferings. I am not speaking, of course, of His personal external glory. That is another thing. I speak of the glory He takes as man, for this is what brings us in — although it could not have been, had He not been God.

He Himself — all homage to His glorious Person! — is the divine centre of all the things contained in the Scriptures from cover to cover. He is the golden chain that joins every part of the inspired book, from Genesis to Revelation, into one marvellous and magnificent whole.

And truly the saints' way to salvation lies along the same road (Rom. 8:17): "provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." There is only this advantage: He went first and beat the road flat. Now we can cross it, though apart from Him it would have been impassable to us.

The phrase "Moses and all the Prophets" takes in the whole of the Old Testament. "Beginning with Moses" means the five books of Moses — Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Then come "all the Prophets," and "He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures" — that is, the Old Testament Scriptures — "the things concerning Himself."

He spoke with great care of Daniel as "the prophet" near the close of the Old Testament, and of Moses at the beginning as the writer of the law. He does not simply leave the Jewish view of Moses unchallenged. He affirms it, and He insists on it Himself, again and again, in the plainest terms.

He Himself — all honour to His glorious Person! — is the divine centre of all the things contained in the Scriptures from cover to cover. He is the golden chain. It binds every part of the inspired volume, from Genesis to Revelation, into one marvellous and magnificent whole.

This would include types (pictures) of Himself, of His sacrifice and of His resurrection glory, as well as direct prophecies. How marvellous this long discourse must have been! Yet it was only for these two, however much we might wish someone had written it down for us. But it is the work of the Holy Spirit today to take the things of Christ and show them to us. So, by diligent faith and submission to Him, we too may learn the same things.

Jesus hears their sad story from their own lips. He brings out the state of their hearts. Then He opens the Scriptures, instead of just pointing to the facts as evidence. This use of the Scriptures by our Lord is very significant. The word of God is the truest, deepest and weightiest testimony — even when the risen Jesus Himself stood there as its living proof in person... From then on it was not a question of a living Messiah on the earth, but of One who had died and risen, now seen by faith in the word of God.

The written Word was enough to have taught them about all that had happened. First He rebuked them for being slow of heart to believe it. Then He turned them back to it. He would settle their faith on what God had already given. He gave them no fresh revelation. They must stand on the written word of God. That done, He made Himself known as risen from the dead... What He sought for those two, He seeks for still, that souls should take God at His word, and rest on what He has revealed. The sooner a soul does that, the sooner it will have peace with God.

To reveal the love of His heart He expounds "to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself". And as He expounds He passes before them the touching story of His sufferings and His glories. The disciples, with their poor human thoughts, would have spared Him the sufferings. That would have kept His glories from Him.

The two disciples had been thinking of the things concerning themselves. The Lord leads them to "the things concerning Himself". Their desire was to bring Christ into their circumstances. He would lead them into His, and have them know Him as the Risen One outside this present evil world.

Think what it must have been to hear Him going through the Scriptures from Moses on, and from type, shadow, figure, offering and sacrifice, picking out what told of Himself, and so explaining it that their hearts began to burn. No wonder — the fact was this: they had never met such a Stranger, they had never had such teaching, and never had such company before.

How beautiful that touch is. Christ never forces His company on us. He did not force it that day, and He does not do it today. I can tell you exactly how much of Christ you will get. As much as you really want. "He acted as if He were going farther." And now the right state appears. They constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us." Here we see the courtesy that always marked Him. It was one of the perfections of His path as a Man. What right had He to enter that house? He had a right, but He did not assert it. The question was this: did they want Him?

"He acted as if He were going farther." How perfect that little movement was! What title had He, a Stranger as He seemed to be, to push Himself on them? He had only joined them on the road, with the courtesy of someone travelling the same way. What right had such a person to cross their threshold? If Jesus is only a Stranger in our eyes, He will still walk outside. Until we know Him as the Saviour, the Lover of our souls, He asks for nothing. But when we know Him as the Son of God who has loved us and given Himself for us, then He claims a place in our hearts and our homes. Then He will live with us and eat with us, as it were, uninvited.

The Lord had exposed their hearts and revealed His heart, but for what purpose? Clearly to lead them to desire His company above everything else. Now He will test them to see if His purpose has been reached... He had drawn near to win their hearts; He will now draw away to lead out their hearts in longing desire after Him. And they respond beautifully to the Lord's testing. He wants them. He had endured the sufferings of the cross to have them. But He has so dealt with them that at last they want Him.

The deepest love was shown in that action of the Blessed One. If you look at it merely from the outside, you would fail to see how blessed it is. But He drew off so that He might draw out. Though He tried to leave them, His heart was toward them... How gladly He goes! That is why He drew off. Blessed be His name forever, He loves to be constrained.

He knew the state of their souls, and that there was still more work to be done before they were fully restored. That further work was the revelation of Himself. So when He acted as if He were going farther, it was only to bring out the request He knew would come — that He would stay with them. The word "constrain" is a strong one; its force is that they would take no denial... How much, we might say, they would have lost if they had not constrained Him to enter!

The Lord will not force His presence where and when it is not wanted. The heartbroken travellers to Emmaus constrained Him to enter, and He went in to stay with them. In the presence of the risen Jesus everything is changed: He becomes the host and they His guests.

The Lord had exposed their hearts and revealed His heart, but to what end? Clearly to lead them to desire His company above all else. Now He will test them to see if the "end of the Lord" is reached... He had drawn near to win their hearts, He will now draw away to lead out their hearts in longing desire after Him. And very blessedly they respond to the testing of the Lord... He wants them. He endured the sufferings of the cross to have them. But He has so dealt with them that at last they want Him.

Only twice is the word here translated "constrained" found in the New Testament. The other place uses it in exactly the same way. Lydia "constrained" Paul and Silas to stay with her (Acts 16:15). In the same way the two disciples "constrained" our blessed Lord, saying, "Abide with us." It is a strong word. In classical Greek it can even mean doing violence to someone. In the passages referred to, it means constraining in the sense of taking no denial. How such a constraint must have delighted the Lord's heart! With what joy He would answer a plea pressed like that!

He will never compel me to have His company. I do not deny what I may call the compulsion of grace upon the sinner. But with a believer He does not act like that. Do you and I covet His company? "He made as though He would have gone further"... There is such a thing as the love of Christ constraining us. But here it was the love of saints constraining Him. It is reciprocal constraint.

It was not that He revived the day. He did not turn the shadow back on the sundial, not even by one degree. He did not command the sun to stand still. The day still declined. But they had found One who could comfort them among the shadows. So when they reached the point where their ways seemed to divide — for He made as if He would go further — they could not part with Him. They had to keep Him as their comfort in the darkness of the night.

Luke 24:29. — "Stay." The Authorized Version has "abide," which inspired Lyte's well-known hymn, "Abide with me."

We get as much of the Lord's company as we desire, and if He is to stay with us we must constrain Him. These two disciples constrained Him and He entered their house and stayed with them. First He put them right about Himself, individually, and then He took His place in their home: He was Lord there. It is the only place He can take... They supposed that He was their guest, but in fact they were His guests.

The disciples on their way to Emmaus asked the Lord: "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent"... Look at the state of His testimony on earth. Don't we have to say, "it is toward evening" and the day of grace is "far spent"? Is there not the same desire in our hearts, to ask: "Lord, abide with us, be near to us"? This verse shows that the attitude of a broken heart has the assurance of His nearness.

Here of course He takes His true place. He must be the master of the house. He is not the guest now. All is His. And sitting at the table, what does He do? "He took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to them." At once there is a recognition of Himself, and of His authority.

Sitting down to a meal with them, the Lord took the place of the host without warning. He took bread, blessed it by giving thanks, broke it, and gave it to these two disciples. Only the Son of God would have the right to do this in the home of another.

The Jews already practised the breaking of bread. They broke bread with those who were grieving (Jeremiah 16:7). The Lord took up this custom for the breaking of bread. "He took bread, and blessed it" (Luke 24:30) means He gave thanks to God, no more.

At the evening meal in Emmaus, He "took bread, and blessed" (Luke 24:30). This time the meal was private, not public. It was in the house, not on the hillside. Probably only two people were there with the Lord, not a great crowd. The risen Lord gave thanks at a little cottage meal!

This was not the Lord's Supper. But Jesus deliberately used that act of breaking the bread, the act the Lord's Supper keeps setting before us. In it, as we know, bread is broken — the sign of His death. So Jesus, there with them Himself, was pleased to let the truth of His death flash upon the two souls at Emmaus. They came to know Him in the breaking of bread — in that most simple but striking action which symbolises His death.

We are to feed on Christ — not only as a living Messiah, and not only as the One alive again for ever in resurrection. We must feed on Him as the One who died, His body broken and His blood shed in atonement. This is how the Lord was known to the disciples at Emmaus, though it was not the Lord's Supper... But what actually revealed Him was the moving fact of His being personally with them in the breaking of bread. It was Himself who broke the bread. There could be no mistake.

By making Himself known in the meaningful act of "breaking bread," the Lord showed plainly that His death had cut them off from every connection with Him "after the flesh." At the same time it drew their hearts after Him as the One "risen out of death."

They supposed that He was their guest, but as a matter of fact they were His guests. He took bread, and blessed it and handed it to them. There was in that village of Emmaus one home at least that recognised Him as Lord. We may only have a small cottage, perhaps only one room. But what a wonderful thing to be able to say: "Within the four walls of this room the Lord has His true place."

Wherever the heart is made ready by faith in the word of God and submission to it, the Lord will bring His past grace back to us. He does this in many a simple act — not necessarily in the "breaking of bread," but in countless little ways. Then the heart may not only burn; there is a flash of recognition of Himself, and the soul is restored to the enjoyment it knew before.

There is only one way of knowing Jesus that can be trusted… So our Lord breaks bread with the disciples. This was not the Lord's Supper. But Jesus used that act of breaking bread with meaning, the same act the Lord's Supper keeps setting before us. In it bread is broken, and that is the sign of His death… He had blessed the bread, broken it, and was handing it to them. Just then their eyes were opened, and they recognised their risen Lord.

It was no longer just a question of His bodily presence as the One who had come in flesh. Redemption was necessary, and so was faith in it. We are to feed on Christ not only as a living Messiah, and not only as the One who is alive again for evermore in resurrection. We must also feed on Him as the One who died, His body broken and His blood shed in atonement… He was gone in a moment — "vanished from their sight." But He gained what He came for. They had life through His death.

But if He stoops to sit at a meal with His own people, He must always take the first place. He must be supreme in every circle He enters. Let us remember this when we want His presence. So HE took the bread, and blessed and broke it and gave it to them… This simple act of our blessed Lord opened their eyes. They knew Him, and He vanished from their sight… But why did He leave so quickly? His work was done. He had found His wandering sheep, and He had restored their souls.

But why did He withdraw from their sight just as they had recognized Him? For the same reason, no doubt, that He had told Mary not to touch Him earlier that same day (see John 20:17). He wanted to show them from the start that resurrection had brought Him into new conditions. So their dealings with Him had to rest on a new basis.

Under His teaching they had just seen that He Himself was the theme of all Scripture. Yet even while they listened, and their hearts burned as they did, they only saw Him with their natural eyes. They did not know Him. Now He vanishes from sight, and they do know Him by faith. What an exchange!

The written Word was enough to have taught them all that had happened. He first rebuked them for being slow of heart to believe it, and then turned them to it. He would settle their faith on what God had already given. He gave them no fresh revelation. They had to stand on the written word of God. That done, He made Himself known as risen from the dead. His work with them was finished. He vanished from their sight.

So at last the Lord does come into their circumstances for a brief moment. But He comes only to lead them out of their circumstances into His own. Having made Himself known, He vanishes from their sight… But how did they know Him? Not as in the days before the cross, in their circumstances, but as the One who was dead but is alive for evermore.

They at once retrace their steps in their earnest desire to join the little company of the Lord's people gathered together at Jerusalem. And having reached their own company they find, to their great delight, that they are in the company of the Risen Lord, and in His company there is no room for dissatisfied or disappointed hearts.

Now, I do not think we ought to play down that burning heart. I am always afraid of that. We ought not to make little of it, and yet we ought not to make everything of it. What was it that made their heart burn while He talked with them and while He opened the Scriptures to them? Was it not Himself? Do not tell me that anything He does is small or trifling. It was He who did it. It was He who lit that fire, He who kindled that flame. It was His love that struck, as it were, the match in their souls.

He does not stop there. Discovering what is in our hearts matters greatly in the work of restoration, but it is not enough to restore us. We do need true thoughts about our own hearts, so we can learn how we wander into a wrong path. But only true thoughts of His heart will bring our feet back to a right path. This is the way the Lord takes with the two disciples. Having exposed everything that was in their hearts, He reveals everything that is in His heart. And revealing what is in His heart turns their "slow hearts" into "burning hearts" (25, 32). He sets their hearts ablaze with love to Himself by revealing the love that is in His heart.

They had their favourite texts and had dwelt on them. They had not taken in all the Scriptures, and had not realised that He was the theme of the Scriptures. If we realise that, we shall pay greater attention to them. We shall read them more often and not live on our favourite texts. As He talked with them, His words gladdened and warmed them, although they did not know who He was. He was talking about the right Person, and they loved Him. Their hearts were moved as He opened the Scriptures to them. So although they did not know Him, He took His right place in their thoughts.

We shall make little progress in divine understanding unless we take time to meditate. The apostle can set certain truths before us, but he cannot give us understanding. This the Lord alone can do. So we read that the Lord did not only open the Scriptures to the disciples. He also opened their minds to understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:27, 32, 45).

It is a wonderful thing when God opens up the Scriptures, because ministry that presents Christ this way always makes the heart burn. If the Spirit of God comes and ministers Christ in His love, grace, beauty, and glory to your soul, you may depend on it, your heart will respond. And if it does not respond, you may well question whether you are a child of God at all… Do you say, "You will set many of our hearts shaking"? Well, if they shake first and burn after, it will be all right. And if they never burn, there is something wrong somewhere.

They had enjoyed sweet conversation with Him, their hearts burning within them while He talked with them on the road, and while He opened up the Scriptures to them. They must return at once, and let those at Jerusalem who had been mourning and weeping (Mark 16:10) know what they had to tell. Spiritual joy is unselfish. There is the desire that others should share in it. Those sixty furlongs — about eight miles — no doubt seemed like nothing as they walked, intent on rejoining the company in the upper room.

They realised they should be back with the other disciples. They spoke to each other of how their hearts burned within them while He had spoken to them, opening up the Scriptures. Though they had said the day was far spent when they arrived home, they had no hesitation about returning that seven miles or more back to Jerusalem. What a change in their attitude! They likely walked back faster than they had walked home, however tired they had felt before. The reality of Christ's resurrection makes the company of His saints attractive indeed, and their strength came back.

They had enjoyed sweet conversation with Him. Their hearts burned within them while He talked with them on the road, and while He opened up the Scriptures to them. They must return at once, and let those at Jerusalem who had been mourning and weeping know what they had to tell them. Spiritual joy is unselfish. There is the desire that others should share in it. Those miles no doubt seemed as nothing as they went along, intent on rejoining the company in the upper room. When they reached it, they found the eleven gathered together — Thomas was not there (John 20:24) — and others with them.

Let us remember they were of the company at Jerusalem, but not in their place. They were walking away, as if all were over and lost. Things turned out very differently from what they had expected. They were sadly disappointed… But what a change when their eyes were opened and they knew Him! They rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. What a picture! While our souls are in that condition, not knowing the Lord among the gathered believers, our backs are sure to be turned to Jerusalem. And the moment we truly know Him, our face turns at once toward the gathered company.

He goes with them to the end, and then He shows them that He has no business at Emmaus… Was it the Spirit that was leading these two toward Emmaus? No, for the Spirit had been leading others to gather together in Jerusalem… So they return to Jerusalem, despite the distance and their tiredness. There they find the disciples gathered together! Was it a matter of indifference to Him whether or not these two were going to Emmaus? Was He concerned only about the number gathered in the little room? Oh, no. He does not reveal Himself among them until these two are brought back to Jerusalem, to those already gathered there.

It was not only the eleven who were there when the Lord came into their midst; so it was not an apostolic company. It is good to remember this, and Scripture is very clear about it. "And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together." The apostles were there. But the brothers were there too, and the sisters as well, I judge. The two from Emmaus joined them, and then the Lord comes to the assembled company and tells them His mind.

They go to tell their news. As they get in at the door, their own faith gets a beautiful confirmation, because someone at once exclaims, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" God always confirms the soul that receives and answers to the truth.

They had come with overflowing hearts, longing to tell what they had heard and seen, but they found those gathered together with overflowing hearts also, testifying to the resurrection of their Lord. So we are not surprised to read that, as they were speaking, Jesus Himself stood among them and said, "Peace to you." We say we are not surprised, because hearts filled to overflowing with Himself will always command His presence… Whenever we speak to one another of Christ, He will always be one of the company.

They go to tell their news. As they get in at the door, they find their own faith confirmed in the most beautiful way. Someone at once exclaims, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" God always confirms the soul that receives and answers to the truth.

"The Lord has risen indeed" (Luke 24:34). But how much that means! It is God's seal on every word He had spoken and everything He had done during His life. It was also the complete reversal of the world's judgment, both civil and religious. That world had rejected Him and thrown Him out as a criminal and a blasphemer. More than that, it was God declaring that He accepted the sacrifice for sin our Lord had offered on the cross. It also declared that death had no power over Him. It declared that Satan's power was crushed forever, and that God's Holy One could not see corruption (Acts 2:27, 31). "Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again" (Rom. 6:9).

The servant who denied the Lord will have a private meeting with the Lord he denied. For we read, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" How wonderful this grace is. We would have thought He would appear to the disciple Jesus loved, or to the devoted woman who anointed His feet. But grace takes a more wonderful way and appears first to the disciple who had denied Him.

They were faithless men; they had abandoned Him and fled at the first blast of the storm. Might He not cast them off and choose others who would not fail Him? That would have been their natural thought, but He had appeared to Simon. Simon who had denied Him three times, and who had cursed and sworn about it. The man whose sin was the worst was the first to be sought out by the Lord. "The Lord has risen indeed" declared that He was greater than the greatest enemy outside them; "and has appeared to Simon" declared that His grace was more than equal to the greatest failure within them.

What was personally between Himself and Peter, He dealt with personally on the day of His resurrection. On that day we are told, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" (Luke 24:34). No one else heard a word of this meeting. Yet the Lord also spoke to Peter in front of the disciples. They were involved in the matter to some degree, and His words were meant to re-establish confidence among them (John 21:15-22).

We are not told what took place at that meeting; it probably could not be told. It is enough for us to know that the Lord appeared to Simon. At that meeting He restored and strengthened his faith, and set his heart completely at rest. So he was able to join his brothers that evening, when the Lord stood among them.

The risen Lord appeared to Cephas — that is, Simon Peter — before He stood among "the twelve." No one could matter more than Simon at that moment, when his soul needed reassurance so deeply. But no single man could carry the weight of the whole company who knew him best. So the twelve are named next.

During that day the Lord appeared to Simon Peter, and also to the disciples travelling to Emmaus. When these two got back that night, they found the disciples occupied with the Lord's appearing to Peter. But there was much unbelief in their minds, though such a testimony seems to have had a strong influence on them.

Would they sit quietly at Emmaus and go on with their supper? They had walked nearly eight miles out. They must cover the same distance again if they were to sleep at Jerusalem... They must return at once, and let those at Jerusalem who had been mourning and weeping know what they had to tell. Spiritual joy is unselfish. There is the desire that others should share in it.

They are witnesses. They are not merely people who hold the right beliefs about Scripture — they have seen the Lord themselves. Such a view unseals the lips. They must speak; they cannot do otherwise.

They go to tell their news. As they get in at the door, their own faith is confirmed in the most beautiful way: someone at once exclaims, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" God always confirms the soul that receives and answers to the truth.

Filled with the one great event that began a new world, they hurried back to Jerusalem... Then the two told the story of their wonderful journey. More wonderful still was their recognition of Jesus in the breaking of bread. The Lord was proving that there should be independent witnesses.

The written Word was enough to have taught them about all that had gone on. Reproving them first for slowness of heart in believing it, He turned them to it. He would settle their faith on what God had already granted. He gave them no fresh revelation. They must stand on the written word of God. That done, He made Himself known as risen from the dead... What He sought for those two, He seeks for still: that souls should take God at His word, and rest on what has been revealed.

How touching also is the way by which He makes Himself known. "He took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them." Would it not at once recall that other scene in the upper room? There He took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body, which is given for you." The whole act proclaimed who He was, and recalled His dying love.

This was not celebrating the Lord's Supper with them. Yet it took up that part of it — the act of breaking the bread — which was the sign of His death.

They had indeed lost their Messiah as they once knew Him in flesh and blood. Now they had their first glimpse of Him in the new resurrection conditions He had entered, and that first glimpse completely changed them. Under His teaching they had just seen that He Himself was the theme of all Scripture. But even while they listened, and their hearts burned as a result, they only saw Him with their natural eyes and did not know Him. Now He vanishes from sight, and they do know Him by faith. What an exchange!

He is only rightly seen by the Christian when unseen... For the present, new things have come in. The Redeemer has gone to heaven, not come to Zion. On earth His own disciples know Him in the breaking of bread. Faith alone knows His presence.

John, who was there, tells us the doors were shut for fear of the Jews. Yet the Lord stood among them and greeted them with words everyone knew: "Peace be to you." It was the usual Jewish greeting (Luke 10:5). They were terrified and frightened at what they saw, for they thought it was a spirit.

"Peace be to you," the risen Saviour said to His disciples when He came back to them. He let them read their title to peace. Peace was now not merely wished for. He pronounced it with authority and handed it to them on the strength of the Cross. Jesus now gave peace to them, because He had already made it for them… We do not just say, like the seventy He sent out, "Peace be to this house," as a greeting or a good wish. We proclaim the sure, settled, purchased peace, which sinners have a title to in the blood of the Cross.

He rises from the dead, and the very first word He says to the company is, "Peace to you."… How do you get it? "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1). Christ is it. On the cross He made it. Risen, He proclaims it. In faith you receive it, and in the power of the Holy Spirit you enjoy it.

When the Lord appeared among His disciples on the day of the resurrection, He found them troubled by thoughts arising in their hearts. At once He dispels their fears by directing their gaze to Himself. He says, "See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself" (Luke 24:36-39). Looking within filled them with doubts and fears. Looking outward at their risen Lord, they saw at once in His hands and feet the proofs that He had died for them and that He was risen. This brought peace and joy into their hearts.

The end of the Gospel of Luke is the basis of every record in the Acts. It is remarkable how Jesus, in perfect grace, takes pains to make the disciples certain that He was the same Jesus whom they had known. Luke tells us there that He ate and drank to show it (Luke 24:36, etc.).

"A spirit," He said, "does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." He was clothed in His body raised from the dead. Flesh and bones marked it out, for He was, and is, a Man. It should be noted that there is no mention of blood. Blood, which is the life of the flesh (Lev. 17:14), was poured out when He died (Luke 22:20). That life given up was never taken back.

"As they were talking about these things, Jesus Himself stood among them." Around Him stood the company of disciples who were His own, whom He never ceased to love. There was the beginning of His kingdom, the start of His Church on earth over 1,900 years ago… That company began on the resurrection day. It continues to this day, and you, Christian, are part of it. If we have given the Lord His place in our hearts we will not assert ourselves in His circle.

They too needed a risen Saviour's challenge to bring them to their senses — to calm their fears and lift their drooping spirits. They had just declared to their two brothers from Emmaus, "The Lord is risen indeed." Yet when their risen Lord appeared they did not know Him. He had to challenge their hearts with His stirring words: "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?"

Here it is plain they recognised the form of the Lord. In none of His appearances to them do we find anything ghostly that would make them think they saw a spirit. The two on the road to Emmaus had just before taken Him for an ordinary man… His sudden appearance, with the door shut, staggered them… So it was not a question of whether it was Jesus or someone else, but whether it was Jesus in the body or as a spirit only.

They most likely failed to recognise Him. They were not expecting Him to come at that time or in that way. So they imagined they saw a phantom until the Master said, "It is I."… In general, the hidden unbelief of man's heart stops him from accepting divine power and love at work in ways beyond the ordinary.

At the start of that day the disciples did not enjoy peace. We read, "But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit." Many believers today, sad to say, are terrified and frightened. Why? They have not got Christ simply before them… Are you troubled in your mind? Have you any ground for it?… This is Christ's way with the troubled. We see others troubled and perhaps say, "Poor souls." Then we leave them in their misery and make no real effort to help. In all this we are not much like Christ. He always stoops to put a troubled person at peace.

There was His body; it was risen. Who could doubt any longer that it was really the same Jesus who died, and will yet come in glory? "See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself!"… The point here is the reality of the resurrection. The risen Jesus is the same one they had known as their Master — still man, not a spirit, but having flesh and bones, and able to eat with them.

It may be worth noticing that our natural feelings often work against faith. It was so with the disciples at this moment. First they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. Afterwards they did not believe for joy. Both their fear and their joy — their natural emotions — were hindrances to faith. But it should be added that emotions produced by the Spirit of God are helps to faith, not hindrances.

At once He drives away their fears by directing their gaze to Himself… Looking within filled them with doubts and fears. Looking outside themselves at their risen Lord, they at once saw in His hands and feet the proofs that He had died for them and that He was risen. This brought peace and joy into their hearts.

There are many believers today who are terrified and frightened. Why? They do not have Christ simply before them... Are you troubled in your mind? Listen to what He says. Have you any ground for it? Have you any occasion for it? "Why are you troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?" This is Christ's way with the troubled. We see others troubled. Perhaps we say, "Poor souls," but we leave them still in their misery, making no great effort to help them. In all this we are not much like Christ. No, He always stoops to put a troubled person at peace.

Luke 24:38. — "Reasonings." American Revisions: "questionings."

You will find that the thoughts you have are not always God's thoughts. The thoughts of your heart are a frequent cause of loss of communion, trial, and discomfort to you. "Why do thoughts arise in your hearts?" was the question our risen Saviour asked His disciples. It was followed by, "Then He opened their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures." It brought Him before them instead of themselves.

It is the outward look to Christ risen that gives the inward peace, and the word of God that gives assurance. The Lord appeared among His disciples on the day of the resurrection. He found them troubled by thoughts arising in their hearts. At once He dispels their fears by directing their gaze to Himself. He says, "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself." Looking within filled them with doubts and fears. Looking outward at their risen Lord, they at once saw in His hands and feet the proofs that He had died for them, and that He was risen. This brought peace and joy into their hearts.

"Why do thoughts arise in your hearts?" He asked them. "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as you see Me have"! ... Why did our risen Lord say "flesh and bones," and not "flesh and blood"? His blood had been poured out for our eternal redemption.

He had said to them, "Peace be to you." It touched His tender heart that there should be trouble or a thought in their hearts! How could such deep, sincere love bear to be doubted? He had loved them to death... One had denied Him, and all had forsaken Him. But now God had raised Him from the dead, for their justification... how could He then bear a cloud of trouble, or one doubting thought, in the hearts of those He had so loved?

The whole scene in Luke 24 has this character. He meets men in their weakness. He does not take them up to the higher place in glory... "Why do thoughts arise in your hearts... handle Me and see... it is I Myself." How gracious!

He presents Himself to His disciples. Their hopes are ruined and their future is scattered, and they are terrified and afraid. They had laid all their hopes in the grave of Jesus, never to rise again, as they thought... And how does He reassure their hearts? He presents HIMSELF, saying, "See my hands and my feet, that it is I MYSELF."

To those who had known Him as the living man among them, a mere visit from His departed spirit would not have been "Himself." It is not a question of exact definitions, but of the heart, and the Lord answers the heart. They saw Him. They did not believe that a living man could come among them in that mysterious way, so they thought they saw a spirit. He answers that by telling them to prove He had flesh and bones.

It is the Lord Himself, risen from the dead. He is a real man, with hands and feet, able to be touched and seen — not a spirit, but a spiritual body. Of this He gave the fullest proof by going on to eat in their presence. As having a body He could eat; as having a spiritual body He did not need to eat. So the resurrection of the body had its glorious proof in His own person. Their faith needed that, and nothing could support it more strongly.

The blood applies to the present life. It is the vehicle of change. It is what implies the need of continual sustenance and renewal. A body that needs no renewal cannot need blood to renew it. So the Lord speaks of Himself as risen from the dead, not as having flesh and blood, but as having flesh and bones... He has poured out His blood and left it with the earthly life He had lived. He has entered a new sphere, keeping all that makes Him truly man, but not the conditions of the old earthly life.

Spiritists say that Christ is the supreme Spirit in the unseen world. But God says He is a Man, in a raised, glorified body at His right hand! Why did our risen Lord say "flesh and bones," and not "flesh and blood"? His blood had been poured out for our eternal redemption.

Scripture does not speak that way. The Spirit tells us that the body the saints will have in the resurrection will be incorruptible and immortal, and spiritual as well. When He rose from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ said to His disciples, "Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." His body was still "flesh and bones," yet it was spiritual. The body of the believer will be the same in resurrection.

What wonders those "hands" had worked in their sight! How those "feet" had walked the path ahead of them, never growing tired! Now each one shows, in the mark of the nails, man's cruel and murderous hatred of Him — and even more strongly, the Saviour's love for sinners.

Our natural feelings are often in conflict with faith. It was so with the disciples at this moment. At first they were terrified and afraid, and thought they had seen a spirit. Later, their joy kept them from believing. Both their fear and their joy — their natural emotions — were hindrances to faith. But it should be added that emotions produced by the Spirit of God are helps to faith and not hindrances.

Wonder and joy were mingled in their minds, and I can understand the mixed state of their hearts. They were thrilled with joy, while hampered with unbelief and wonder. His words, "Have you anything here to eat?" made the reality of His presence absolute to them... All was now clear. Every mist of doubt rolled away as they saw Him eat.

It is the Lord Himself, risen from the dead. He is a real man, with hands and feet they could touch and see. He is not a spirit, but has a spiritual body. Of this He gave the fullest proof by proceeding to eat in their presence. As having a body He could eat; as having a spiritual body He did not need to eat. So His own person gave the resurrection of the body its glorious proof. Their faith needed this, and nothing could support it more strongly.

Scripture also shows us that the resurrection body does not depend on earthly conditions. At the same time, it can enter into them. He ate the broiled fish and honeycomb to show them His body was truly material. Yet it was no longer a body for the earth.

Suppose God had said, "Satan has ruined your body, so I will take you to be with Me in spirit." That would have confirmed Satan's victory over the body. Did God come into the world to do that?... it is necessary to see that He has got a victory in this world; so to prove this, the Lord stoops down in a wonderful way. "He said to them, Have you anything here to eat?" Why was all that? Simply to verify that it was no mere spirit that stood before them. The Lord came to fight a battle for you — real flesh and blood you can touch. Manhood you can touch was destroyed, so manhood you can touch must be redeemed.

The Lord presents Himself as the very same Man... Here also His hands, His feet, all that marked His manhood, His previous wounds are presented. He eats... The Lord shows it to them in a very ordinary, close-up way. He eats and drinks in front of them — how far He stoops! But this was reality and truth. It restored their souls and made them know Him as still a Man — risen indeed, but a Man, truly and really.

The Lord was about to give them the strongest proof that His Person was real. So He eats the broiled fish and honeycomb they had provided for themselves. This assures them it is really Himself. When you come to John 21, again there was broiled fish, but this time He provided it, to assure them that He cared for them. How rich and deep is the grace that ever provides that which will confirm our faith, and feed and sustain our souls.

The One they killed on a tree ate and drank with His own after He rose from the dead. He did not need the food. They needed the evidence that He was alive from the dead — a truly risen Man, Who loved His own who were in the world, and loved them to the fullest.