Witnesses
93
“O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have
spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter
into His glory?
“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded
unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”
Luke
24:25-27
.
The disciples were silent from amazement and delight. They did
not venture to ask the stranger who He was. They listened eagerly as
He explained to them Christ’s mission.
Had the Saviour first made Himself known to the disciples, they
would have been satisfied. In the fullness of their joy they would have
desired nothing more. But it was necessary for them to understand
how His mission had been foretold by all the types and prophecies
of the Old Testament. Upon these their faith must be established.
Christ performed no miracle to convince them, but it was His first
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work to explain the Scriptures. They had looked upon His death as the
destruction of all their hopes. Now He showed from the prophets that
this was the very strongest evidence for their faith.
In teaching these disciples, Christ showed the importance of the
Old Testament as a witness to His mission. Many now reject 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
.
As the sun was setting, the disciples reached their home. Jesus
“made as though He would have gone further.” But the disciples could
not bear to part from the One who had brought them such joy and
hope.
So they said to Him, “Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and
the day is far spent. And He went in to tarry with them.”
Luke 24:28,
29
.
The simple evening meal was soon ready, and Christ took His place
at the head of the table, as His custom was.
It was usually the duty of the head of the family to ask a blessing
upon the food; but Christ placed His hands upon the bread and blessed
it. And the eyes of the disciples were opened.