They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32 NAS95)
The fellowship of the burning heart hungers for its perceptions to be transformed to see, feel, and touch Kingdom realities. Jesus, post resurrection, remained hidden from Cleopas and his friend’s sight, until He broke the bread in their home. The minute the two, who walked with Jesus to Emmaus, saw this act, they perceived, remembered, and knew they had been with their Savior. Jesus’ conversation with them had stirred their hearts into the wonder of what the Scriptures truly say about God. They drank it in, and their burning hearts signaled the authenticity of the presence of God in Jesus. They had just heard the Word interpreted by the Word, explaining recent perplexing events of a widely popular but now crucified Rabbi. That conversation expanded their perceptions to see Jesus and His heart. They knew He had risen.
God longs for our hearts to burn within us as truth of His Kingdom illumines our lives. He hungers for us to live in the reality of His Kingdom, experience His presence, and His guidance. These two disciples took a seven-mile walk, and on the way they discussed recent events. They took time to reflect, ruminate and digest. They maintained a leisurely pace, but on the way, Another joined them. They welcomed the Stranger. Jesus clarified their reflections with the fullness of reality, the King who dwells among us all. The Redemptive Lover revealed Himself, the meaning of His life, and their interiors burned with illumination. Time with the Word on the road, clarified the Scriptures in their heart, where the Father filled with resonance the truth of what they were hearing. Elation so moved them, that they immediately went to share with others the message of Jesus. The experience of God’s love compelled them to proclaim. May our hearts burn with the joy of hearing our Savior as we prayerfully reflect on the Scriptures so we can enter His dreams for our world and us.
For Reflection:
“Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.” (Psalms 32:11 NAS95)
- Have you ever experienced your heart “burning within” like the disciples on the Emmaus Road? What do you recall?
- What happens when you take time to leisurely walk with Jesus conversing over His Word?
