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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S How their hearts leaped for joy! How doubts vanished! How fears were solved! How uncertainty gave place to assurance! It whs Himself! But He vanished out of their sight. He did not pass out of the door. He was gone. He faded from their sight, leaving them with pulsing hearts. Do you suppose you could ever make those two witnesses doubt their eyes? When we invite Him in, He will re spond to the invitation. When He breaks the bread, we will know Him anew; know Him as the glorified risen Christ. He broke the bread when He fed the five thousand; He broke the bread in the upper room. How little has been made by the church of those words, “ Do this in remembrance of me.” There is a new revelation of Him for us when we gather around His table, to do what He has asked us to do— re member Him. (4) THE WILLING WITNESSES, vs. 32-35. It was night, but they could not keep the news. Back over the miles they speed. With eager steps they retrace the journey, their hearts filled with joy. As new born souls long to tell of the peace a reconciled God gives to the sin ner, so these disciples long to share with others the good news. Breaking into the room where the eleven are gathered, they tell the wonderful story of His rev elation to their darkened, burdened souls—-“ The Lord is risen indeed!” There is no question now. They have talked and walked and eaten with Him, and seen Him. He had broken the Word to them, and broken bread with them. Do not leave out of the picture the revelation that came to the disciples when Jesus Himself bursts in the room where they are gathered and reveals Himself to the troubled, trembling dis ciples, and shows them His hands and His feet.
In this lesson we have an evidence of the condescending grace of the Lord Jesus to two humble, insignificant disci ples, whose hearts were burdened. Though we hear nothing of them after this, yet He seems to have spent more time with them than with any one else after His resurrection, — conferring, consulting, instructing. What a lesson for His followers! What ah example to those who are called to minister in His name. Note the order of the Lord’s dealing: Eyes holden; hearts opened; Word opened; understanding opened; mouths opened as witnesses. May it be so with us. PRACTICAL POINTS. (1) Is it possible for eyes to be holden when He is present? (2) .Paralysis of the heart accompanies unbelief in the Scriptures. (3) The Saviour had to suffer for siri before He could enter the gates of glory. (4) The Old Testament from Genesis to Malachi is a testimony to the Lord Jesus. (5) Would He oftener tarry with us, were we to invite Him in?' (6) His presence in the home is a pre cursor of blessing. (7) When the bread is broken that speaks of His broken body, does He make Himself known to you? (8) The lesson may be summed up in; talking about Jesus; talking with Jesus; testifying to Jesus. (9) Holden eyes were opened; hidden things made known; He Himself was manifested. (10) Opened eyes (v. .31); opened Scriptures (v. 33); opened under standing (v. 35). Subject Illustration—Leaders are God- given. An Adjutant-General of the U. S. Army wrote home about the voices of
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