The burning heart

It was Sunday afternoon and two of Jesus’s followers were returning from Jerusalem to the town of Emmaus. As they were walking along the way, Jesus joined them and asked what they were discussing. They were surprised that he would ask because everybody had heard about that Galilean preacher Jesus who had come back from the dead that very morning. That remarkable event was as all that people could talk about. When the two men told Jesus all about it, he chided them for not knowing that Moses and the prophets had taught that the Messiah would suffer. Then he pointed out all the passages in scripture that spoke of him.
         When they reached their destination Jesus was going to continue, but at their invitation stayed for the evening meal. It was when he took the bread and broke it that they realized who he was. At that point Jesus disappeared from their sight. Cleopas and his companion looked at one another in astonishment and said, “Did not our hearts burn within us as he spoke to us along the road, explaining scripture?” (Luke 24:32)
         This encounter is one of the most endearing passages in the gospels. The two men were simply returning from the capitol city filled with wonder at what everyone was saying had happened. They were intrigued by the explanation of the one who had joined them. However, it was at the table when Jesus broke the bread that they suddenly caught on who he was. And then he was gone. They looked at one another and confessed that they should have known because while he was explaining scripture along the road – “Did not our hearts burn within us?”   
         To realize the deeper meaning of scripture is to experience the “burning heart.” Truth needs no support from logic. We have all felt the warmth of divine truth when we have learned it along the road of life. Even the more secular world acknowledges the “ring of truth.” And this truth warms because it puts us in a vital relationship with God, the One who is speaking through it. It’s important to realize that scripture is not simply words in a book. The purpose of scripture is to allow you to fellowship with and learn from God. It is when a favorite passage becomes God himself speaking as being there that the heart begins to burn. The Fourth Gospel tells us, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (1:14). He did, and when his presence is revealed to us I can guarantee that our hearts will also begin to burn. May your life be a Walk to Emmaus along with Jesus.