The biblical account of the conversation between Cleopas and his colleague on the road to Emmaus is poignantly enlightening. The painfully futile attempt to comprehend spiritual things from the vantage point of the natural is vividly portrayed in this story. These disciples’ crushed hopes have so clouded their judgment of the events of the previous three days that they are completely oblivious of the identity of the Stranger who joins them. We gather from their conversation that their misconstrued elucidation of the mission of Jesus is the source of their sorrow, disillusionment and disappointment. They somberly inform the Stranger that “we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21). The disciples rightfully acknowledge that the One who was crucified was a prophet who did mighty works before God and the people. Furthermore, they say, “some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see,” (verses 22-24). The Stranger responds to this barrage of melancholy recollections by chiding them and then “beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself,” (v. 27). Sadly we all, at one time or other, fall into a similar trap of pandering to our assumptions that always cloud our spiritual judgment. While we see and think within the confinements of the transitory, God orchestrates events from the eternal present. The two are incompatible. Insisting on the pursuit of our own agendas can distort our perception of spiritual things. By focusing on the literal liberation of Israel from the iron grip of imperial Rome these disciples failed to see the spiritual triumph of the death of the Lord Jesus for all mankind. Sometimes we craft and latch on to our own ideologies and end up being so enslaved by them that the message of the cross becomes a stumbling block to us. Difficult and painful experiences are not evidence of abandonment by God. On the contrary, they are often a precursor of a revelation of deeper spiritual truths and blessings for God’s glory. Why didn’t the Lord just show the disciples the scars on His hands, feet and side as proof of His miraculous resurrection? Unfortunately, empirical evidence usually appeals to our sensory faculties only. It plays no significant role in the regeneration of the heart. Seeing is not always believing. Israel witnessed the evidence of God’s presence when He descended on Mount Sinai and still made and worshiped a golden calf. By carefully unfolding the story of redemption Jesus was touching the hearts of the disciples and establishing His kingdom in them; gently uprooting their cultural assumptions. “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” The human heart is the place where the Lord seeks to establish His kingdom on earth: “The kingdom of God is within you,” (Luke 17:21).
Posted on: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 23:46:19 +0000
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