03/22/2025
I really love the story of Jesus appearing to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. This morning let’s concentrate on what those disciples said when they finally realized that the man they had been traveling with was actually Jesus; they said: "did not our heart burn within us." Let’s think about our own moment when it became clear to us that Jesus was truly the Son of God and had been sent to save us. Let’s think back on that faithful day when we walked with Him down our own road to Emmaus and how His gospel message came alive in us as our hearts burned.
“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” Luke 24:32 KJV
Two things happened in this verse that led the hearts of these disciples to burn; the first was being near and speaking with Jesus, and the second was in His revelation of scripture.
When we pray, don’t we feel near to Jesus, and in those moments when the conversation changes from one of common speech to one that is divine, doesn’t it absolutely thrills our hearts. In those hours of prayer the Holy Spirit takes full reign over us and divine words and utterances of praise gush from our mouths as we lift God up. In those times of communion with the Lord and Jesus our hearts burn within us and we wish that we could remain there forever. Have you been there in prayer? Hasn’t the presence of the Holy Spirit filled you and allowed your spirit to speak unbridled, and directly to God and His son Jesus?
“But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
Romans 8:25-27 ESV
If you have ever allowed the Spirit to fill you, then you know the burning heart of a disciple. In that moment when your heart burns for Him, you too are walking the way with Him every bit as much as the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus is speaking to you as passionately as He was His disciples.
Or perhaps your heart burned when you realized He was there with you when you were reading your bible, and the Holy Spirit gave you revelation of something you had never seen before in a particular scripture. Have you had a moment like this? Has your heart ever burned as the scripture was opened to you? Has the Holy Spirit ever revealed a new truth in a verse you have read and reread many times before?
We read scripture over and over, until one day a light comes on within us and a new meaning rushes out to meet us. A truth we had been blinded to before quickens us, thrills us, and leads us into spontaneous prayer. At that moment our hearts are set afire, and they begin to burn with a holy fire as we walk with the Lord. Praise flows from us without thought or prompting and we realize that we are on our own amazing road to Emmaus with Jesus opening scripture up fresh to us. In that moment of revelation our discipleship is reaffirmed and all we can think about is getting back to Jerusalem so that we can tell others of our newfound truth... Jesus has arisen… Jesus is alive!
“And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.”
Luke 24:33-35 ESV
This morning I could barely wait to send this email. My heart was burning as I typed each letter and quoted the scripture. Prayer sprang forth as I wrote the words. My prayer chair was suddenly covered in the dust from the road to Emmaus and I knew I needed to rise in this same hour to return to be with you… to return to Jerusalem.
“And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,”
Luke 24:33 ESV
And I think back on how Jesus introduced Himself on the road to Emmaus and know that in this conversation we are having today, that there is no sadness, for Jesus is risen and we have walked the way with Him this morning.
“And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad.”
Luke 24:17 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for all that transpired on the road to Emmaus, but I especially thank you for the hearts that burned for your Son and your Word. Help me Father to sooth the burning in my own heart as I read your Word and meet your Jesus along my own way to Emmaus. Lord, I thank you for never allowing me to stray too far from Jerusalem without calling me back. Your Word whispers to me and my heart shouts out in joy. Holy Father we are approaching Easter, yet even as my heart breaks for the suffering of your Son, I look beyond the cross to see Him risen and walking with me along the way. My heart burns as He leads me, and by opening the scriptures He reveals them to me as if it were new. Jesus, Son of God, never depart from me and stay with me, "for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who was, and is, and is to come. Praised be your Holy name Father for sending Jesus, your only begotten Son, to redeem me and all mankind. This has been your intention from the foundation of the earth… that you would send Him. Great are you who is glorified by Jesus Christ and may all those who believe, serve you, and beg your Son to stay with us, call out… HALLELUJAH! and AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
Additional Scripture:
“but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.”
Luke 24:29-31 ESV
“He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”
Luke 24:6-7 ESV
“Do you not know? Do you not hear?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?”
Isaiah 40:21 ESV
“Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.”
Isaiah 40:28-29 ESV
Rich Forbes