"The Burning Church"

And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 17 And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. 21 “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. 22 “But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. 24 “Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” 25 And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. 28 And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. 29 But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 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. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” 33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones, known and remembered as a legend among preachers, was also a medical doctor. In fact, at a young age he passed by an opportunity to fill the lucrative role of personal physician to British royalty in order to answer the call of God to preach.

In one of his sermons Dr Lloyd-Jones told a personal story which I will convey to you in brief here. He said that he was guest preaching one year in a church in his homeland of Wales. After the service several men of the church came to Dr Lloyd-Jones and asked him if he would do them a favor. Well, of course he was willing to do anything to help if he could, so the men told him about a man in their community who at one time was strong in the Lord and in the service of the church. They said this man for whom they were very concerned had been in a state of depression for a very long time, and no one seemed to be able to help him rise above it.

Lloyd-Jones agreed to meet with the man and went to the man’s home to speak with him. He asked the man if he had any idea when this depressive state he was in first began, and the man said that he indeed knew exactly when it began. He then related the account of when he was serving during what we now call World War I. He was involved in the Gallipoli campaign and served on a submarine in the Mediterranean.

The man said that one day during this campaign and while engaged in battle, there was a sudden thump against the side of the submarine and the vessel shook violently then sank to the bottom of the sea.