Did Not Our Hearts Burn Within Us?

Stranger Things...

The evening of that first Easter day was devastating for all but a few of Jesus’s followers. Some of the women had met the risen Christ at the empty tomb and told the others that he was alive, but they didn’t believe the women’s report.

My charcoal and gold powder drawing of the “stranger” meeting the two disciples on the Emmaus road.

Note: Women weren’t considered to be credible witnesses in those days, yet the risen Christ came first to them—one of the many ways he empowered women.

Cleopas and another unnamed disciple (who may have been his wife, Mary) were leaving Jerusalem on that first Easter evening, and walking the seven miles back to their home at Emmaus. Here we will pick up Luke’s account, from the 24th chapter:

¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. ¹⁶ But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷ And he said to them, “What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸ Then one of them, named Cle′opas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” ¹⁹ And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. ²¹ But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel… And he said to them…”Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

In my oil painting below, Christ points to himself as the fulfillment of the Scriptures, and the disciples’ hearts were warmed.

²⁸ So they drew near to the village to which they were going…²⁹ but they constrained him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.

³⁰ When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. ³¹ And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight.

³² 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?” ³³ And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, ³⁴ who said, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”

³⁵ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

This is a strange and amazing story. Notice how they recognized the risen Christ through the words he shared and through the broken bread. Christ is still known today by the word of Scripture and the broken bread of Communion.

My oil painting on black paper depicts the risen Christ revealed.

Notice how in vs. 32, they asked each other,

“DID NOT OUR HEARTS BURN WITHIN US while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?”

What made their hearts burn? God’s love made their hearts burn. This love has captured hearts through the ages. St. Therese of Lisieux wrote:

“It is only charity/love that can expand my heart. O Jesus, since this sweet flame consumes it, I run with joy in the way of Your NEW commandment.”

This love that warms the heart, is for all who will receive it. Even if you have lost hope like the two on the road to Emmaus, you can begin or continue this journey with this simple prayer:

“Lord Jesus, if you are real, please show me, that I may follow you.”

The RISEN Christ delights to reveal himself in love today. And as you follow him, you join the everlasting song throughout the ages:

“O Risen One, O Risen Son, you are the sun of righteousness, the New Dawn rising with healing in your wings” (based on Micah 4:2)

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I invite you to share YOUR story here, of how God has shown himself to you. Your story will encourage others.