“Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 24:32.

When we fully comprehend Him that we behold Him, we then understand that when He opens the Scriptures we recognise the work that the Word does in us. We recognise the work of placing each difficult and painful event in its eternal context. Paul said this:

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Co 4:17.

This word is taken from 2 Corinthians 4:17 and it encapsulates perfectly what the 2 disciples spoke in our base text. Did we not understand that in the whole panorama of eternity our affliction is but momentary, but what we have glimpsed is the purpose it did in the dimension of glory, in the context of the redemptive work of Christ.

This photo above was taken as a panoramic look at my home town, as you can see you can almost see all, because it is taken from a height, the highest place there, and then from there you have a vantage point. The Scriptures do that, they lift us from the now, and the ground, low, human level, to a vantage point so we can see a fuller picture. This is what Jesus does at the end of the process of comprehending Him, seeing Him. We are first lifted out of our emotions, out of our feelings, out of our understanding, and what Jesus presents is nothing new, the Scriptures already existed, they already pointed, they already spoke, and spoke through many prophets. So this is also a safeguard, because many have come and said to us they have some “new revelation”, for which we need to hold in great consideration awaiting discernment. Yet what Jesus presents to the disciples and to anyone who goes on this Emmaus Road, is not anything new, but because it is presented in the Holy Spirit there is an interaction with the heart. This sensation feels like a warmth is in our bosom, a strange comforting and peaceful sensation.

And from the vantage point that Jesus had brought them to, they could fully enter the next phase which marks the end of the journey.

The promise here is that when Jesus needs us to see Him He will open fully our understanding, and as we read of the 40 days between His resurrection and His ascension, there are no more parables, but He spoke plainly.

And so the season comes in our walk with Him that He shall speak clearly to us and plainly, because the greatest challenges and greatest need for power are ahead.

May we recognise the work of the Scriptures in us. May we allow the Scriptures to lift us to God’s vantage point. Lift us to where He lives and moves.

Maranatha.