After celebrating the ascension of our Lord we turn back the clock to look at one of the appearances of Christ as He joins Himself to the Emmaus travelers. There are some important points in the words He speaks to the travelers as a sermon from the Preacher par excellence! Note that He always preaches about Himself and does so from the old testament scriptures and also that this admonition/rebuke is for us today as well!

Not understood: Two are on their way to the village..the road to Emmaus. Both travelers were from the "inner circle" who knew and loved Christ and the narrator is possibly even the unnamed traveler. It was 6- 7 miles and they were spending at least a few hours together when an unknown guest (the risen Lord) joins them and enters their conversation and draws out certain questions that needed to come to the fore. They were perplexed at what had happened in Jerusalem (the crucifixion, visions, angels speaking, the tomb, and the rumors about Jesus' body.)

Explained: "Why are you so befuddled and have gloom in your heart and soul?" They had pinned their hope on Christ and now did not know where He was! "Slow of heart to understand" ALL the old testament scripture and that which the prophets had taught them. How were they now so foolish on things that had been so plainly understood, taught, and explained? They did not understand that He had to enter glory through suffering and Jesus expounds ALL of the old testament dispensational scriptures concerning Himself to them. About Himself! "Ought He not to have to suffer these things" The way and the suffering of Christ that had to occur they could not grasp. They did not understand how and why the suffering, the rejection, the GOSPEL of God's grace as it emanates from the old testament. ALL of it came from the old testament! Jesus Christ was written all over it in the types and shadows...the necessity of the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ! Christ chose a people in the way of sin and grace and through His suffering!

Applied: Christ said "O you fools...and slow to understand..." We understand it fully but do we really? Are we quick to judge these travelers? Aren't we too often perplexed and would not Christ ask the same of us if He joined in on our coversation(s)? Are we perplexed at the circumstances in our life and the way He leads us to glory? I know often times I have been and am. The necessities of the child of God is we have to endure. Do we think there is a different way to glory? All these things befit a pilgrims journey and we suffer with Him until glory. "Count it all joy when you fall.......ALL things work together..." It brings us closer to God and makes us anxious for HIM! Life and death are the "ought" things that must happen to bring us into glory! They came to eat with Him and their eyes were opened when eating with Him. The scales were taken away from their eyes "and did not our hearts burn within us why He walked with us?!"