"Two Forgetful Followers”

Jesus had been raised from the dead. Here we read about one of His post resurrection appearances. Unaware Jesus had risen, all these two disciples knew was He had been crucified, His tomb was found empty and they were despondent. Though Jesus promised His disciples He would be raised from the dead on the 3rd day after His death, it was a:

1. Promise forgotten - vs. 13-24

We are amazed by the irony of the situation. First, that they would forget the words of Jesus. As we said, He repeatedly had told them that He would rise from the dead and that death would not be the end for Him. Second, that they would forget the works of Jesus. Jesus had repeatedly demonstrated His power to fulfill His promise to overcome death. But the fact that they had forgotten these two things led to an even greater irony: They were despairing at death in the presence of the One who had overcome it for them!

2. Promise explained - vs. 25-31

Jesus used the scriptures to explain how God had brought about the fulfillment of His Word in the person of Jesus!

It has been said that the prophetic writings of the Old Testament are like brush strokes on a canvas. Each writer took his brush and made his mark on the canvas, with them all together making a portrait of Jesus.

3. Promise realized - vs. 32-35

These disciples gained more than an understanding, they gained a personal realization that Jesus is alive! They said that their “hearts burned” within them as the living Christ opened up the scriptures.

William Sangster headed a revival movement in the British isles after WW2. His ministry was cut short by a disease that ended up paralyzing his body, even his vocal chords. On his last Easter Sunday on earth, still able to move his fingers, he printed a note to his daughter who had told him it was Easter Sunday. It read, “How terrible to wake up on Easter and have no voice to shout, ‘He is risen!’ But far worse, to have a voice and not want to shout.”

These disciples went from sulking to shouting as they looked to the scriptures and rejoiced in the presence of the living Christ. May we do the same today!