Luke 24:32 - The Secret of the Burning Heart.
Luke 24:32 - The Secret of the Burning Heart.
Luke 24:32 (NKJV) And they said to one another, "Did not our
heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He
opened the Scriptures to us?"
Luke 24:32 (CWR) They looked at each other and said, "No wonder
our hearts burned within us when He talked to us along the way and
explained the prophecies to us! He's the Lord! He's risen! He's alive!"
CONTEXT: On the Road to Emmaus: Luke 24:13-35.
APPLICATION COMMENTARY With Emphasis On Verse 32.
Did not our heart burn? Spiritual illumination had been
penetrating the darkness of their souls while they listened with rapt
attention to Jesus unfolding the Scriptures. Now they realized what had
happened to them. The gloom was gone. The presence of Christ had
illuminated their humble home, and glorious truths He had unfolded to them
dispelled the shadows of doubt and uncertainty that had fallen across
their minds. They probably thought to themselves that this stranger
had spoken as Jesus would have, had He been still alive and with
them. The heart experience of these two disciples will be the
experience of those who listen intently to the voice of Heaven speaking to
their hearts through the Sacred Word. [SDA Bible Commentary]
The Bible has been robbed of its power, and the results are
seen in a lowering of the tone of spiritual life. In the sermons from
many pulpits of today there is not that divine manifestation which
awakens the conscience and brings life to the soul. The hearers can not
say, "Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by
the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?" Luke 24:32.
There are many who are crying out for the living God, longing for the
divine presence. Philosophical theories or literary essays, however
brilliant, cannot satisfy the heart. The assertions and inventions of men
are of no value. Let the word of God speak to the people. Let those
who have heard only traditions and human theories and maxims hear
the voice of Him whose word can renew the soul unto everlasting
life. {COL 40.1}
Christ's favorite theme was the paternal tenderness and
abundant grace of God; He dwelt much upon the holiness of His character
and His law; He presented Himself to the people as the Way, the
Truth, and the Life. Let these be the themes of Christ's ministers.
Present the truth as it is in Jesus. Make plain the requirements of the
law and the gospel. Tell the people of Christ's life of self-denial
and sacrifice; of His humiliation and death; of His resurrection and
ascension; of His intercession for them in the courts of God; of His
promise, "I will come again, and receive you unto Myself." John 14:3.
{COL 40.2}
Instead of discussing erroneous theories, or seeking to combat
the opponents of the gospel, follow the example of Christ. Let fresh
truths from God's treasure house flash into life. "Preach the word."
"Sow beside all waters." "Be instant in season, out of season." "He
that hath My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the
chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord." "Every word of God is pure. . . .
Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found
a liar." 2 Timothy 4:2; Isaiah 32:20; Jeremiah 23:28; Proverbs
30:5, 6. {COL 40.3}
Even though the men Jesus encountered on the road to Emmaus
had been with Jesus before his death, they hadn't grasped the fact
that his death had been prophesied by the Old Testament and by Jesus
himself. So Jesus connected the dots for them. He started from the
writings of Moses and then walked them through all of the prophets,
"explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself" (24:27).
Now that would have been quite a Bible study! Jesus opened their
minds to the meaning of all of the prophecies regarding him. And
finally, Jesus opened their eyes, and they got it!
God's Word needs to be understood and applied to life. You
won't understand everything you read, but the more you read, the more
you'll learn and the more you'll understand. From beginning to end, the
Bible is about Jesus. It tells what happened to humanity, why we
needed a Savior, and what God did about it. It tells of God's great
love for us. It assures us of eternity. Ask God to help you "get it"
when you read his Word. [The One Year Bible for New Believers re Luke
24]
Their hearts burned as they heard Him teach the Scriptures; and
soon, the mourners became missionaries and shared the good news with
others. Do you allow the Holy Spirit to teach you (John 16:13-15)?
[Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe]
We must learn to maintain the secret of the burning heart-a
heart that can go through anything. It is the simple, dreary day, with
its commonplace duties and people, that smothers the burning heart
unless we have learned the secret of abiding in Jesus. [In His Time; My
Utmost For His Highest]
That Resurrection morning, as two of Jesus' disciples trudged
along the dusty road to Emmaus, a town about seven miles from
Jerusalem, their faces were downcast. Mournful and gloomy, they undoubtedly
made dreary companions that Easter morn. Yet when Jesus joined them
in the guise of a stranger, the two disciples revealed they had a
host of Resurrection facts! They even told the friendly Stranger
about the empty tomb. Yes, some of their company had talked with
angels, who said Jesus had risen from the dead. Yes, two disciples had
gone to the tomb, and found it empty. But they hadn't seen Him. So as
these disciples trudged along, their faces sad, their hearts burdened,
mourning the triumph they thought a tragedy, Jesus traced the Old
Testament passages which predicted the Messiah's death and foretold His
resurrection. And even then the two disciples couldn't shake their gloom.
Downcast disciples. Downcast disciples, walking along the road with Jesus
by their side. Downcast disciples, mourning as though their God
really were dead rather than with them, and triumphantly alive. If you
think that this is strange, think for a moment about your own life.
Have you forgotten what the two on the road to Emmaus didn't know? Do
you find that you have a downcast mood that slips up on all of us
now and then. But when it does, that's the time to remember the
lesson of the road to Emmaus. Our feelings do not fit the facts! We're
not alone anymore. Jesus lives, and our resurrected Lord walks our
road with us. When we focus our attention on Him, and realize how
close beside us He is, that downcast mood will be replaced by joy.
[The 365-Day Devotional Commentary re Luke 24:13-35]
Jesus joins those who are earnestly seeking Him. Two men
walked along the road to Emmaus discussing the confusing events that
had just occurred in Jerusalem. They thought they had understood the
happenings of their day, but the death of Jesus had left them disoriented
to God and His activity in their world. They had hoped that Jesus
was the Messiah, but His death had left them perplexed and
discouraged. They needed answers.
God reads the heart and knows the honest pursuit of His will
by His children. Jesus drew near to these men, walked with them,
and opened their minds to what the Scriptures said about Him and
about the events of their day. As Jesus was speaking, their hearts
burned within them! As they listened to Jesus relate the Scriptures to
what they were experiencing, they knew in their hearts that they were
hearing God's truth. Their doubts vanished, excitement overcame them,
and they raced back to share the truth with their friends!
If you become bewildered by circumstances in your life, Jesus
can reorient you to Himself through the Scriptures just as He did
for these two men. From your human perspective, the situation may be
confusing and discouraging. It takes the presence of Christ to open your
eyes to the truth of the Scriptures. Have your circumstances confused
you? You need Jesus to give you His perspective. Once you've heard
from Him, you'll be like these two men, excited to join God in what
He is doing around you and eager to include others in the
experience. [Experiencing God Day by Day by Henry and Richard Blackaby re
Luke 24:32]
Grace Notes:
http://www.e-gracenotes.org/index.php
A Better Way to Live:
http://www.itiswritten.com/betterway/
Excellent Spiritual Resource Site:
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/
More Spiritual Resources:
http://www.aBible.com
