Burning Hearts

 "Were not our hearts burning inside us as He talked to us on the road and explained Scriptures to us?" Luke 24:32

If we could choose to be a participant at any of the bible stories, this would be one of my choices.  It is amazing to me that Jesus chooses to teach these two disciples, "interpreting for them EVERY passage of Scripture which referred to Him, beginning with Moses and all the prophets" (v.27).  

Who were these men? Were they important?  Were they going to be mighty evangelists? Were they going to write one of the Gospels?  We know that one of them is named Cleopas, and from early writings, a historian noted that Cleopas was a brother of Joseph, husband of Mary.  But there is nothing more. And nothing at all about the second man. To me, the significant thing is that they were ordinary men. People like you and me. They were leaving Jerusalem. Why? Perhaps because it was too "hot" there for the disciples. Perhaps because they thought nothing more was going to happen, that was “the end”. But Jesus joined them on their journey, and after He walked and talked with them, after He broke bread with them, they recognized Him, and they WENT BACK to Jerusalem. It obviously was not “ the end”!

It's a pity that they did not record anything of what Jesus said. It would have been fascinating, I am sure.  But I think we are supposed to go on a treasure hunt for those Scriptures that would point to Jesus. This story is already a clue that there are many Old Testament passages that point to Jesus! If we find them, our hearts will burn as well!  If it was all written down, it would just be ho hum, another lecture we will take for granted. And Jesus did say something about not giving pearls to swine. If we really seek, we will find. We will find the treasures hidden in the Bible. If we go through the journey from Genesis to the stories in the New Testament, we will find what Jesus thought was important for the two disciples to know. In Jeremiah 6:16, we can read: "This is what the Lord says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." Yes, if we travel the ancient paths, we will walk with Jesus, talk with Him, and break bread with Him. Our eyes will be opened, and we will really know Him.  I think that is what Jesus wants for all of us!