Mark 16:13 / Luke 24:32-35…
How Jesus is known…
They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" This isn’t some physical, mystical sign or experience we are supposed to be looking for as we read the Bible. These men were saying that upon reflection, it was obvious that they were with the Master.
These two had run back to tell of their experience, and found out that some of the others had also now come to believe. They had heard of the report of Peter, how he had actually seen Jesus. Now this report was further confirmation of the truth. Still, some were not as yet believing (Mark 16:13 / cf. Matthew 28:17).
Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. It was not the breaking of the bread, in and of itself, that was the key to the opening of the eyes of these two men. It was the work of the Spirit, who convinced the men of the meaning of the Scriptures and thus enabled them to see Christ for who He was.
Jesus could have identified Himself as the Lord to these two men, and then proceeded to teach them on the basis of His authority. As it turns out, Jesus taught them on the basis of the authority of the Scriptures. This is proof of the principle that the Word of God itself has power (Hebrews 4:12-13 / cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 / 2 Peter 1:4). Jesus taught that if people do not believe the Scriptures, no other sign will be enough (Luke 16:31).
The reason these two men, the other disciples, and all of us, view our circumstances with despair is because we do not view them from God’s point of view. We fail to discern our circumstances spiritually. When viewed biblically, everything that happens is a part of God’s plan. This included not only the suffering and death of Messiah, but also His resurrection. People need the Word of God if they are to recognize the hand of God in history, including their own.
Do you want to know Jesus Christ more intimately? Stop looking for a sign, and start looking in the Scriptures (Romans 10:17).
3 comments:
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Amen! May we all "see" the worth of bible study and the scriptures. Trusting God to teach us through men He has put into place when we're in a church which teaches sound doctrine.
Indeed and agreed!
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