13. They Knew Him

From "My Hearts Desire"
By Maynard A. Force

They Knew Him
Their eyes were opened, and they knew him.
Luke 24. 31.

The first Easter was just about over and still two disciples were "looking sad'' (24.17). They had been "amazed" at the story the women had to tell about the empty tomb, but these things did not satisfy them for "him they saw not'' (v.24). They did not know what to make of the whole thing. Finally, they decided to go to Emmaus, a village a short distance from Jerusalem, and it was while there that "their eyes were opened'' and they received a blessing that changed them completely. Let us notice what led to this wonderful experience.

First, the disciples were willing to open their hearts to Jesus and receive Him into their fellowship. When He joined their company along the road He did not immediately identify Himself as He had done to others. He had a greater and more lasting blessing in store for them. Therefore "beginning from Moses and from all the prophets he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself'' (v. 27). Notice, He went back to the books of Moses which are in the very first part of the Bible. Then to "all the prophet's," and finally "He interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.'' What a blessing it was that these men were familiar with the Scriptures, so that Jesus could reveal these truths to them! How sad that in our day so few people read and study the Bible! Very few people have read it through even once. What a pity! This accounts for the fact that so few have met the resurrected Christ. Jesus Himself said, "Man should not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God'' (Matthew 4.4). ''Every word,'' He said. That means we should feed our souls from all the Scriptures. Our spiritual diet should have in it all the vitamins of God's Word in order "that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work'' (2 Timothy 3.17). If we are to meet the resurrected, living Christ, we must first open our hearts to Him and hear His word, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly'' (Colossians 3.16).

Secondly, the disciples were willing to receive Christ into their homes. They extended a personal invitation, saying, "Abide with us." How simple the invitation, and yet how effective! The greatest blessing of our lives came in response to these simple words. They might have thought that since it was toward evening, the greatest happenings of the day were over. Surely, the exciting news of the women returning from the empty tomb would be the high point of the day, even if it did leave them "looking sad." Can a "far spent'' day have anything to offer? Is there any hope for a "far spent'' life? Yes, a thousand times yes, providing we do as these Emmaus disciples, and constrain Christ to "abide with us." Such an invitation can change any life in a hurry.

Thirdly, we notice that the disciples were willing to share their very necessities with Him. They had learned to love this stranger, so now they were willing to invite Him to their table. They thought they were going to give Him something, but instead He "took the bread and blessed; breaking it he gave to them'' (Luke 24.30). The hand that reaches out to give to Christ is the hand that comes back full. Our Lord asks us to give Him a portion of what we have so that He may have the opportunity of opening "the windows of heaven and pour (you) out a blessing that there shall not be room to receive it'' (Malachi 3.10). It was by this simple act of giving them back the blest bread that "their eyes were opened, and they knew him'' (Luke 24.31).

Words can not describe the blessing that came to these two disciples when ''their eyes were opened.'' Immediately drastic changes took place, changes such as will take place in the life of any one whose spiritual eyes have been "opened.'' First, their countenance was changed. Whereas they had been "looking sad," now floods of joy overwhelmed them. Then, too, their plans were changed. Before, they were going in one direction, now "they rose up that very hour'' and proceeded in the opposite direction. Perhaps the greatest change of all was in their testimony. Whereas, before, "they questioned together,'' Now they could give a united testimony, "The Lord is risen indeed'' (Luke 24.34). All this because their eyes were opened and they knew him!''