_THE APPEAL OF EASTER_ ‘Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.’ Luke 24:5 There is a tone of gentle remonstrance in these words of protest against an unseasonable sadness on the day of earth’s greatest joy. ‘O ye of little faith,’ the angels would seem to say, ‘less... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE WALK TO EMMAUS_ ‘And it came to pass, while they communed and questioned together, that Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him.’ Luke 24:15, R.V. The story of the walk of the two disciples to Emmaus is full of vivid touches which... [ Continue Reading ]
_ABIDE WITH US_ ‘Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.’ Luke 24:29 ‘Abide _ with us_.’—It is the prayer of two men; two men to whom God came. It is the only Easter-tide prayer recorded for us, and it is an ideal prayer for ourselves. I. THE JOURNEY TO EMMAUS IS AS T... [ Continue Reading ]
_BURNING HEARTS_ ‘And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?’ Luke 24:32 It is surely one of the lessons to be drawn from this narrative of the Self-revelation to Cleopas and his fellow-wayfarer tha... [ Continue Reading ]
_RISEN INDEED_ ‘The Lord is risen indeed.’ Luke 24:34 I. THE FACT.—The Christian Church is founded on the definite historic fact of Christ’s Resurrection. Socrates hesitates and confesses he does not know, Christ solves the problems of the ages and says He has the keys of death and of Hades. I... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE HANDS OF THE RISEN CHRIST_ ‘Behold My hands.’ Luke 24:39 No doubt the first reason why Christ showed His Hands was to prove that He was the very same Jesus Who had been crucified. I. THEY WERE PITIFUL HANDS.—Those Hands had blessed the children. Those Hands had touched the leper. Those Han... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE GOSPEL OF THE CROSS_ ‘(He) said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.’ Luke 24:46 I have recited as our... [ Continue Reading ]
_AT JERUSALEM_ ‘Beginning at Jerusalem.’ Luke 24:47 The witness of the Church to the risen Christ is wide as the world. But the words afford a remarkable indication of method. I. NOTICE HOW EXPLICITLY THIS POINT IS EMPHASISED BY CHRIST HIMSELF.—How prominently Jerusalem, where He had been rejec... [ Continue Reading ]
_SPIRITUAL POWER_ ‘And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.’ Luke 24:49 The question of questions for each of us to consider is, ‘How am I to make my life the home and embodiment of this power from ab... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE ASCENSION_ ‘And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.’ Luke 24:50 Witnesses were not necessary to the _ act_ of Resurrection, but they were necessary... [ Continue Reading ]
_TO JERUSALEM WITH GREAT JOY_ ‘And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.’ Luke 24:52 The message of that descent from the hill of the Ascension is a message for all time, and for all the people of God, until ‘this same Jesus, in like manner, shall so come again, as He was... [ Continue Reading ]