Luke 24LUK 24
The Lord cannot allow the condition of saints to be different from His doctrine. What is the truth that He is calling us to? Himself—around His Person. As we go through Luke 24 we shall see the hindrances of the soul, and the Lord's remedy for them.
In Luke 9 the two men in the glory were with the Lord. They were talking of His decease. It is not merely coming to the breaking of bread, but a living state of connection with Christ, like Moses and Elias enjoyed, that must characterize us.
Now, in Luke 24, there is not a word of anyone seeing Christ, but there were two souls leaving Jerusalem, and these two were sad, but were talking of His decease. Something drew them away from Jerusalem, although with sorrow, and the Lord came and talked to them, asking them why they were sad. There never had been a more wonderful day for the earth than this—He had been crucified and buried, had risen, and angels were adoring at the resurrection—and yet the souls of these two were sad.
We learn from this the state, often, of our own souls. Why was there this slowness of heart? Their reply is given in verse 21. It was what the natural man looked for—a kingdom on earth. They tell Him that the One whom they looked for is crucified, is dead, and they have no hope.
When the soul is out of communion we seek temporal deliverances. How does the Lord deal with them? As far as these two go away from Jerusalem, He goes with them. What grace! There was no communion nor intelligence with them, but He goes with them to the end, and then He shows them that He has no business at Emmaus. He reveals Himself. Depend on it, if we are looking for some outside temporal removal of difficulties, we have got outside of our right place.
Was it the Spirit that was leading these two toward Emmaus? No, for the Spirit had been leading others to gather together in Jerusalem. The two had to go to Emmaus (though they little knew it) to know Himself. Then when He had revealed Himself to them, they feel that they, like Him, have no place there. So they return to Jerusalem, in spite of the distance and their fatigue, and find the disciples gathered together!
Was it a matter of indifference to Him whether or not these two were going to Emmaus? Was He careful only of the number gathered in the little room? Oh, no; not till these two were brought back to Jerusalem, to those who were already gathered there, does He reveal Himself among them. How precious to know the Lord is just like this!
We all have our Emmauses. What a comfort to know that if we do wander there, He will never rest, but go after us and reveal Himself, as He did to these two, and bring us back! It is the wandering ones the Shepherd's heart is ever longing after. Nothing satisfies that heart but the taking of the sheep on His shoulder, and bringing it home rejoicing.
W. J. L.