225
May 1931
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
through them all that Jesus would do if He were personally present. Was carried up into heaven. Just before the cruci fixion, He had asked the Father that He might receive the glory which He had be fore the world was (John 17:1-4). His prayer was now answered, and He went home. Immediately, two men in white apparel announced to the disciples that their Lord would return again from heav en in like manner as they had seen Him go into heaven (Acts 1:11). They went forth with assurance that Christ lived again from the dead and that, according to promise, He would be with them “all the days” (cf. Matt. 28:18-20). * * * L esson Q uestions V. 25. In what respect were these two disciples “foolish men” ? Did Jesus mean to be disrespectful in speaking thus about them? In what respect were they “slow of heart” ? What had they failed to be lieve? Did the Lord Jesus accept as truth “all that the prophets have spoken” ? V. 26. What was it necessary for Christ to do ? Can there be kny salvation apart from His atoning death? Why was it difficult for the disciples to believe that He must “suffer these things” ? V. 27. From what scriptures did the Lord Jesus quote? What truth did He find in these scriptures? Is it important to “search the scriptures” ? May one search with a wrong motive and a mistak en method (John 5:39, 40)? V. 28. To what village were they go ing? Why did Jesus act as if He were going farther? Does He force His fel lowship upon any one? Does He refuse to “abide” with any who invite Him? V. 29. What did these disciples re quest of Him? Had His conversation awakened interest and desire in their hearts (cf. v. 32)? Were they urgent in their invitation to .Christ? Did He accept their invitation? -Vs. 30, 31. What did Jesus do at the evening meal? Had He ever before bless ed and broken bread (cf. John 6:11; Lk. 22:19)? When were their eyes opened? Why did He vanish from them sight when they recognized Him? V. 32. How had their fellowship with Jesus affected them? Is it important to have burning hearts as well as enlight ened minds? Will the Lord Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, open to us the Scriptures if we have fellowship with Him? Vs. 33-35. What did the two disciples do after Jesus departed? To whom did they go? What news did they receive? What did they have to tell? Did these proofs of the resurrection raise the cour age of the disciples? Vs, 36, 37. How could the Lord Jesus enter the house when the doors were shut (cf. John 20:19)? What was His salutation? Had the death and resur rection of Christ accomplished anything toward giving peace to the world (Eph. 2 :13-17) ? What was the effect of the vision upon the disciples? Ws. 38-40. What questions did Jesus ask? Is it necessary for a Christian to have fear? What proofs of His resur rection did Jesus give? Vs. 50, 51. To what place did Jesus and the disciples go? Did His last act on earth, the blessing of the disciples, symbolize all that He had done through-
V. 36. As they spake. The testimony of the women, of Peter, and of the two disciples from Emmaus was sufficient to awaken eager desire in the hearts of the rest of the disciples to see the risen Lord. When they were ready, He appeared. Stood in the midst. The doors had been shut for fear of the Jews (John 20:19). The Lord entered without the opening of any door. Peace be unto you. This was the customary greeting, but it had "more than ordinary meaning in this case. Had there been no resurrection, the disciples never could have known peace. V. 37. They were terrified. The ap pearances to the others who had already seen Him were under different circum stances and were such as would allay fear. This sudden supernatural appearance in their midst, unannounced, startled the disciples and made them think they beheld a spirit. V. 38. Why are ye troubled? Surely the risen Saviour is not the 'author of trouble. His presence, when recognized and welcomed, always removes trouble (cf. John 14:1, 27). Wherefore do ques tionings arise? The rebuke of their unbe lief was warranted. They should have accepted the testimony of honest and competent witnesses (Mk. 16:14). Vs. 39, 40. It is I myself. He pointed to the prints of the nails in His hands and feet. He invited the disciples to handle Him and ,to realize that He had a real body of flesh and bone. No mention is made of blood in His body, for the blood had been shed on Calvary. III. The Ascension (50, 51). V. 50. He led them out. Probably from the upper room where He had been talk- with them. They went to the vicinity of Bethany, where Jesus had spent so much time in the home of Lazarus and the two sisters. Lifted up his hands, and blessed them. The one supreme purpose of His coming to earth was to bring blessing. When He was last seen, as He was being taken up into heaven, His hands were outstretched in blessing. V. 51. He parted from them. When He had told the disciples earlier that it was expedient for them that He should go away, they had refused to believe it. Now they understood, and expectantly tarried in Jerusalem until He should send the promise of the Father, the other Com forter, who would be to them and do
find Christ “in all the scriptures,” Chris tian experience would take on new mean- ing. V. 28. Drew nigh unto the village. Emmaus was about two hours’ journey from Jerusalem. Jesus was about to proceed on His journey and leave His two companions behind. V. 29. They constrained him. The Lord Jesus will never tarry with any dis ciple unless He is invited to “abide.” These two men had already been instinc tively drawn to Him, but they were slow to recognize Him. Some one has re marked that their minds lagged behind their hearts. Vs. 30, 31. Sat down with them. He was their guest at the evening meal; but presently He assumed the role of host. He took the cakes of unleavened bread, and after He had given thanks, He broke them and distributed to them. Their eyes were opened. Whether the body of the Lord Jesus had been so changed by the terrible experience on the cross, or wheth er He, by divine power, closed their eyes so that they did not recognize Him is not made clear. It is quite possible that, when He lifted His hands in the attitude of prayer, they saw the prints of the nails in His hands. Vanished out o f their sight. His presence with them in the body would not have been an advantage to them longer. He had succeeded in con vincing them that He was risen from the dead and had given them the hope and inspiration which that fact was calculated to bring. V. 32. Was not our heart burning? Their spirits were kindled with the fire of heavenly love as He talked with them. When their own hearts were aglow, they were prepared to warm the cold hearts of other sad disciples. Opened to us the scriptures. The Bible is a sealed book to many. The Holy Spirit is ready to break the seal when any honest inquirer comes to the Scriptures seeking Christ in them. He is the one great theme of the book (cf. John 5:39, 45-47). II. The Risen Christ at Jerusalem (33- 4°). V.' 33: Returned to Jerusalem. The evening meal came late in the day, but these disciples immediately set out for Jerusalem to tell, what they had learned. The eleven gathered together. They clung together for mutual comfort. Others were with them—possibly many of the one hundred and twenty who are men tioned as gathered in the upper room on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:13-15). V. 34. The Lord is risen indeed. This was added confirmation of the fact of the resurrection, which had already been given them by other witnesses. Hath ap peared to Simon. Mark (16:7) states that an angel had told the women at the tomb to go “tell his disciples and Peter.” There is no other Special reference in the gospels to Christ’s appearing to Peter alone, but Paul makes mention of it (1 Cor. 15:5). Peter was in special need of a private interview with Christ be cause of his threefold denial. During this interview, he was forgiven and re stored to fellowship. His restoration to service came later (John 21:15-22). V. 35. They rehearsed the things. They were competent witnesses, with the best of evidence, and were more than eager to tell all that they knew.
I Know That Christ Lives I saw not the hill nor the cross where they nailed Him, Nor heard His last words through His quivering breath; I. bore Him not hence to the tomb that received Him, So silent and cold in that chamber o f death; But stronger than sight is the faith that believes it, And greater than reason, God's witness to me; For sin and uncleanness'the Christ made atonement: I know that He died, for His blood cleanseth me! —Edna Jane Allen.
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