293 road. Their intense attitu d e and in te re st in the things they were talking about would n atu rally a ttra c t th e in terest of anyone walking the' same way, and evoke. th e question, “W hat is all this you are saying together as you journey?” It will greatly help us if we carefully study £he Lord’s method of dealing w ith souls, as recorded here. He probes them in order to draw them out. He reveals themselves to them in th e ir answer. They unburden th e ir hearts and tell of th eir fears and blasted hopes. Is not th is the way in which He deals with us? Is not th is His method of help ing us? He brings us to th e end of ourselves a n d 'th e n He brings us into fellowship w ith H imself and we find all th a t our souls need when we re st upon His bosom. Foolish men! Slow-hearted men! “Why do you not believe all th a t the prophets h^ve spoken?” And th en He gives them a sermon of th e utmost value; a message th a t is needed in every church in our land today. Here Jesus sets H is seal to th e pro phetic Word of th e Bible from Genesis (including all of the Scripture) to Mal- achi. I t will be well for us to fortify ourselves as teachers w ith this message. He begins by telling them th a t suffering and death were the appointed means by which Jesus was to' en ter into glory. Suffering is Gad’s appointed gateway to glory in every life. It is God’s uni versal law. The vine is pruned to bleed ing; the seed must die in th e ground. The self-denying of th e stud en t; the pelf-sacrifice of the soldier; the sacrifice of th e mother; all are illu stration s of the tru th th a t th ere is bu t one way to glory for th e children of men. “As He is, so are we.” He is th e Captain and goes before, and we follow in His steps. We m ust begin, as teachers, where Christ begins— a t Genesis. There can be no understanding of the New Testament
T HE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S There was the tragedy of th e cross. There was the empty tomb. W hat was the prospect for His followers now th a t He was gone? Their 'h e a rts were sad and heavy. They were filled w ith un belief and sorrow. While He was with them H is presence and His message were enough for them. In Him th ere was always comfort. Now He was gone. There was no th ing left for them but th e strange story of His life, His wonderful words and works. This is a beautiful picture story told by Luke and in it are many precious and practical lessons which will be helpful to us as they have been to the followers of Christ th rough th e centuries. The theme is “Concerning Jesus of Na zareth ” (v. 19). For those who love Him, every word, every deed is precious. Every scene is hallowed. He is our Lord, walking and working as a Man among men. We never tire of talk ing tog eth er about Him, yet we often fail to make the most of our privilege. (Mai. 3:16-17.) “ T h e n th e y t h a t lo v e d t h e S.o rd s p a k e o f te n o n e to a n o t h e r ; a n d t h e L o r d h a r k e n e d a n d h e a r d it , a n d a b o o k o f re m e m b r a n c e w a s w r i t t e n b e f o r e h im f o r th e m t h a t f e a r e d t h e L o rd , a n d t h a t t h o u g h t u p o n h is n a m e . A n d th e y s h a ll b e m in e , s a i t h t h e L o rd o f h o s ts , in t h a t d a y w h e n I m a k e u p m y je w e ls ; a n d X w ill s p a r e th e m , a s a m a n s p a r e t h h is o w n s o n t h a t s e r v e th h im .” He tak es notice and note of our con versation about Him, and when our h earts are in tune w ith His heart, He will draw nigh and- our h earts will burn w ithin us. Had He not said (Matt. 18: 2 0 ) “W h e r e tw o o r t h r e e a r e g a t h e r e d t o g e t h e r i n m y n a m e , t h e r e a m I in t h e m id s t.” . ' ** , And was not th is an illu stration of its fulfillment? - (2 ) THE WORDS AND WISDOM OF THE STRANGER, vs. 15-27. “He expounded un to them th e things con cerning him self.” As they w;alked and talked He drew nigh. He came in a perfectly n atu ra l way as an y traveler m ight along th e
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