After the resurrection of Jesus, He appeared many times to His disciples and others for the next 40 days. One of my favorite of these appearances is recorded in Luke 24: 13-34.
The same day, after being told that Jesus’ body had disappeared from the sepulchre, two of His disciples were walking to a village called Emmaus. As they walked and discussed the events of the last three days, Jesus Himself joined them. They did not recognize Him however and he asked them, “Why are you two talking this way and being so sad?”
One of them, named Cleopas, answered. “You must be a stranger to Jerusalem to not know about the things that happened there in the last few days.”
Jesus asked, “What things?”
Together they told Him all the things concerning Jesus of Nazareth. “He was a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.”
“The chief priest and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death and have crucified Him.”
“But we trusted that He was the one that would redeem Israel….and besides all this, today is the third day since these things were done.”
“Yea, and certain women from our company astonished us with a tale of going early to the sepulchre.”
“And when they found not His body they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels which said that He was alive.”
“And certain of them which were with us (meaning Peter) went to the sepulchre and found it as the women had said, but Him they did not see.”
The stranger among them then said, “Oh 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?” Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He recounted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.
By now they were near the village and when they insisted, the stranger agreed to stay and tarry with them. As He sat down to eat with them, He took bread, broke it and gave it to them.
With this familiar gesture, their eyes were opened and they realized who He was…. and He vanished out of their sight.
And they said to each other, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the way here and while He opened unto us the scriptures?”
Right then, they returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven other disciples and others (which included Jesus’ mother, Mary, and His brothers) gathered together. “The Lord is risen indeed,” they told them, “and He has appeared to Simon.”
They told what had happened and how they had known Him by the breaking of the bread.
As they spoke, Jesus Himself appeared and stood in the midst of them. He said to them, “Peace be unto you.”
We Christians, who have felt the healing presence of Christ in our lives, should be familiar with this feeling of our hearts burning within us when He draws near. It might be while we’re praying, confessing our sins, singing a hymn of praise, during a church service or walking down the street.
I recall one instance when Jesus appeared to me a few years back. Some things had happened and I was finding it hard to deal with some choices my daughter had made. All during Sunday School that morning I had fretted about it silently. While walking into the sanctuary later, I was reminded by Jesus, “You also, as a daughter, sinned against the Father…. and He forgave you.”
In that instant I was able to let go of my anger. Love and forgiveness along with that burning knowledge of His presence brought relief to my aching heart. It made the worship service that followed even more meaningful. When I got home, I was able to call my daughter and talk to her as if nothing had happened.
Doubts, fears and unforgivness can cause so much heartache. When Christ appears with His hand outstretched, grab hold of it and accept the help He is offering. The Bible tells us in James 5:16 to: “Confess your faults one to another and pray for one another that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Fervent means burning….deep emotional feeling.
I have often heard preachers say not to base your salvation on feelings, and this is true. You may not feel great emotion every time you pray or whatever, but when Christ appears to you and personally reassures you of His love and forgiveness, you will recognize Him and be blessed. I like to think of these moments as little glimpses of heaven…. where someday we will be honored to be in the glory of His presence always.