It was on the afternoon of the day that the Lord Jesus Christ put His foot upon the Serpent’s head, having been raised from death and from the grave—victorious over Death, Hell, and the Devil.
Two followers of Jesus, one named Cleopas and the other unnamed (we’ll call him Zeke) were walking from Jerusalem to the little town of Emmaus, where they would spend the night. Their heads were swimming due to the turn of events over the previous 72 hours—beginning with the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of the man from Galilee, Jesus of Nazareth, and culminating with the reports now of the early morning disappearance of His body from the tomb.
Their countenances were fallen. Long periods of silence were broken only by an occasional child shouting at play. The distressed twosome reminisced over the events of the past days. Perhaps their conversation went something like this:
Cleopas: “It seems so unreal; Jesus was with us just a few days ago. We could see Him, touch Him, hear Him, and ask Him questions; now….”
Zeke: “I know…and every time I think of that trumped-up trial it turns my stomach! He said He was God’s Son, and I truly believed Him, but I still cannot believe that God would let His Son hang there on a tree and suffer so cruelly. Why didn’t He intervene?”
Cleopas: “Well, I suppose if I were to be absolutely honest, I would have to say that I too have some doubts, but this latest thing about His body being gone from the tomb—this has really got me baffled!”
Zeke: “I know what you mean. But now the soldiers are saying that His disciples came and stole Him away while they were asleep. And they are trying to discredit Mary Magdalene’s story that she saw Him alive by reminding everyone of her history of demonic possession. Do you really think He could be alive now, Cleopas?”
Cleopas: “Well, it’s possible. After all, remember what He did when He visited Lazarus’ tomb? I think it’s very possible.”
Just then, the two travelers were joined in their journey by a third person, who said, “Excuse me, I could not help overhearing part of your conversation. May I join you? Now what exactly was it that you were saying about Jesus?”
Cleopas: “What? You mean you have not heard what has been taking place in Jerusalem lately?”
Jesus: “What things?”
Cleopas: “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death; and have crucified Him? But we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel.”
Jesus: “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 the Word of God tells us that, beginning at that point, the Lord Jesus began to expound to these two disciples the things concerning Himself in the Scriptures—beginning at Moses and all the prophets. Those disciples had heartburn that day—holy heartburn. (“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) And, too, we will have holy heartburn if and when we see Jesus like they saw Him. Consider with me the cause of their heartburn, the character of their heartburn, and the cure for their heartburn:
The Cause of their Holy Heartburn
- They learned of Christ from Moses: that God would have a seed that would destroy the Serpent. (Gen. 3:15) They learned that the offering of Jesus as the Lamb of God was typified in Genesis, when Isaac was taken by Abraham to Mt. Moriah and put on the altar. “My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” (Gen. 22:8)
- They learned that Abraham was taught early the doctrine of the resurrection, for of him we read in Hebrews 11:19: “Accounting that God was able to raise him up (Isaac), even from the dead, from whence also he received him in a figure.”
- They learned from the life of Joseph that one would come who, having been rejected by His brethren, would one day bring deliverance to not only His own people, but also to “strangers.”
- They learned from the book of Exodus: from the man Moses, his ministry and call from the One who is I AM; from the Passover night on which lambs without blemish were slain and blood was sprinkled on the door posts of houses wherein lived men and women of faith;
- They learned from the book of Leviticus, with its feasts and offerings, wherein Christ was typified;
- They learned from Numbers, the book of the preparation for conquest, wherein they saw the Captain of the Hosts of the Redeemed leading His great army of soldiers of the cross onward into battle;
- They learned from the book of Deuteronomy where the Law was given and reiterated, and where they saw Jesus, the One made under the Law to fulfill the Law;
- And they learned from all the prophets, such as Isaiah 53: “He is despised and rejected of men…wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities.”
The Character of their Holy Heartburn, vss. 28-31
- They had a new fervency, v. 29—both their attitudes and actions were changed.
- They enjoyed a new fellowship: Jesus sat with them, and Jesus “gave” to them, v. 30. The Bread of Life was given to these faint followers—bread which “came down from Heaven.”
- They had a new vision, v. 31—wherefore before they had looked at Him; now they “saw” Him; before they knew of Him; now they knew Him!
The Cure for their Holy Heartburn
- The cure involved “rising up,” v. 33.
- The cure involved “rehearsing,” vss.33b-35.
- The cure involved “returning,” v. 33.
In our 21st century world, events unfolding daily on the world stage can cause us wonder and even bewilderment, just as those events impacted Cleopas and his friend on the weekend that changed the world forever, Friday through Sunday, when the Son of God, Son of Man, was crucified, buried and rose again. Our help, hope, and holy promises—found in God’s Word, from Genesis to Revelation—are where we will find that anchor that keeps our soul. Let us be driven there daily, moment by moment, and never let us get past—no, never let us get over—the holy heartburn that spending time with Jesus, walking and talking with Him, will give us.
“And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.” (Luke 24:53)
YOU and GOD 