From Moses to Jesus

In Luke 24:13-45, two people walked down the road to Emmaus.  They were having a bit of a pity party.   Just before they cut the cake at the pity party, Jesus showed up.  Yet, they were kept from recognizing him.  Perhaps God prevented them from recognizing Jesus to enable a point to be made moments later.  Perhaps their heart condition prevented them from recognizing Jesus.  Either way, the incognito Jesus posed a question: “What are you discussing?”

The duo explained their unmet expectations (my creative rendering): We thought Jesus would redeem us.  Yet, Jesus did not live up to our expectations.  Jesus was captured by the authorities and was sentenced to death.  They actually crucified him.  We never imagined that!  Some women went to the tomb where they buried him and they came back excited about an empty tomb.  We don’t get it.  This is not how we pictured it.

Jesus responded to the duo how he often responds to us, “How foolish…”  Jesus went on to say, “Did you not know the Christ had to suffer these things?”   Ultimately, Jesus responded with a Bible study.  

Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus explained to them what was said in Scripture concerning himself.  Think about that.  Think of all of the things Jesus could have done to show himself … and he chose to use Scripture.  We often want something dramatic.  We want something flashy.  Yet, Jesus feels that Scripture is enough.

At the conclusion of this story the two road-walkers broke bread with Jesus.  Suddenly their slow hearts quickly thumped.  At this point they recognized Jesus. They asked, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”  

When was the last time your heart burned from reading the Scriptures?

The Bible leads us to Jesus

You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me – John 5:39 

The 1963 Baptist Faith and Message says, “The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ.”

To read the Bible and not fall in love with Jesus is a tragedy.  To read the Bible and fall in love with Jesus changes your eternity.  We don’t read the Bible to win Bible drill competitions or complete a spiritual checklist. We read the Bible to gain an understanding of God, and when we do, our love for Him is deepened. We grow thankful for salvation through the crucified and resurrected Savior.  We continue to read the Bible to become more and more like Him each day.