Walk to Emmaus
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In teaching these disciples, Jesus showed the importance of the
Old Testament as a witness to His mission. Many professed Christians
now discard the Old Testament, claiming that it is no longer of any
use. But such is not Christ’s teaching. So highly did He value it that at
one time He said, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither
will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
Luke 16:31
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It is the voice of Christ that speaks through patriarchs and prophets,
from the days of Adam even to the closing scenes of time. The Saviour
is revealed in the Old Testament as clearly as in the New. It is the
light from the prophetic past that brings out the life of Christ and
the teachings of the New Testament with clearness and beauty. The
miracles of Christ are a proof of His divinity; but a stronger proof that
He is the world’s Redeemer is found in comparing the prophecies of
the Old Testament with the history of the New.
Reasoning from prophecy, Christ gave His disciples a correct idea
of what He was to be in humanity. Their expectation of a Messiah
who was to take His throne and kingly power in accordance with the
desires of men had been misleading. It would interfere with a correct
apprehension of His descent from the highest to the lowest position that
could be occupied. Christ desired that the ideas of His disciples might
be pure and true in every specification. They must understand as far
as possible in regard to the cup of suffering that had been apportioned
to Him. He showed them that the awful conflict which they could not
yet comprehend was the fulfillment of the covenant made before the
foundation of the world was laid. Christ must die, as every transgressor
of the law must die if he continues in sin. All this was to be, but it
was not to end in defeat, but in glorious, eternal victory. Jesus told
them that every effort must be made to save the world from sin. His
followers must live as He lived, and work as He worked, with intense,
persevering effort.
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Thus Christ discoursed to His disciples, opening their minds that
they might understand the Scriptures. The disciples were weary, but
the conversation did not flag. Words of life and assurance fell from
the Saviour’s lips. But still their eyes were holden. As He told them of
the overthrow of Jerusalem, they looked upon the doomed city with
weeping. But little did they yet suspect who their traveling companion
was. They did not think that the subject of their conversation was
walking by their side; for Christ referred to Himself as though He were