[200]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – ON THE EMMAUS ROAD – EASTER POEM
The greatest bible study in history happened on the road leading to Emmaus.
The reason why the disciples, who were still in shock, did not understand the events that were unfolding rapidly before them, was that they did not understand the Old Testament scriptures. It was not until the night of the resurrection in the upper room that the frightened bunch came to comprehend some of this great story.
On Sunday afternoon two of the believers were journeying to Emmaus and welcomed a stranger to accompany them. He opened to them the scriptures like no one had ever done before to any human being. And why should it not have been any other way, for it was the Lord Jesus who gave the scriptures through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration! {{2 Timothy 3:16 “ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness”}}
The two who were travelling were Cleopas and it is presumed the other was his wife even though this verse says “men” though Jesus may have been speaking in a general sense about men. {{Luke 24:25 He said to them, “O FOOLISH MEN and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!”}}
This is their account of the event – {{Luke 24:32 AND THEY SAID TO ONE ANOTHER, “WERE NOT OUR HEARTS BURNING WITHIN US WHILE HE WAS SPEAKING TO US ON THE ROAD, WHEN HE WAS EXPLAINING THE SCRIPTURES TO US?”}}. There could be no other outcome for the Lord broke to them the bread of the scripture as He broke the bread with those two – {{Luke 24:30-31 “It came about that when He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it and breaking it, HE BEGAN GIVING IT TO THEM, and their eyes were opened and they recognised Him, and He vanished from their sight”}}
The passage does not say so but I think the recognition God gave them that it was the Lord, happened because they saw the nail scars in His hands.
I really love this Emmaus story probably because it is that of a bible study, the greatest ever, but my poem does not do justice to that event.
It does say this about the conversation Jesus had with the two disciples – {{Luke 24:27 “and beginning with MOSES and with ALL the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”}}. Can you picture that? Jesus began right at the start of Genesis with creation and the fall, and worked through the first Passover, and the Tabernacle sacrifices and into the prophets especially Psalm 22 and 69 and Isaiah 53, and so much more. Don’t miss the fact it says, “ALL the prophets.” What a study!
What a revelation the two gave to the disciples just before Jesus made His appearance – {{Luke 24:35 “They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognised by them IN THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD”}}
This is just a wonderful account. The bible is so precious and must not be neglected.
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ON THE EMMAUS ROAD – EASTER POEM
Two that Sunday afternoon
Could not sing a cheerful tune.
To Emmaus they would go
But their hearts were not aglow.
Sadness had enveloped them -
Walking from Jerusalem.
Slowly did they wend their way
Deep in thought that special day.
They discussed recent events -
Some confusing incidents
At that time received by them,
All of which did rightly stem
From the death of Jesus Christ;
Lowly, by the rulers, priced.
Christ, they knew, as Prophet great.
Words and deeds they could relate.
Israel’s hope - they’d thought of Him,
Aspirations now gone dim;
Hoped He would redeem Israel,
But through death, that would fail.
Yet some women had declared
What they saw and how they fared
At the tomb, that very day.
“Christ has risen” they did say.
They conversed about these facts,
Of the Lord, and of His acts.
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But just then, the Lord drew near.
Their concerns He came to hear.
Listened to their story well,
Eager that they were to tell.
When they’d finished, He commenced.
True authority they sensed.
Scriptures opened on that road
Eased the thoughts of sorrow’s load.
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In the Scriptures Christ revealed
All of Him, the Spirit sealed.
Did their hearts within them burn!
Caused their spirits to discern
Treasures of this lovely One,
Jesus Christ, the given Son.
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16 October 199 R E Ferguson All 7s A-B throughout