Meditation Archives

March 31, 2003

OUGHT NOT CHRIST TO HAVE SUFFERED
THESE THINGS?

"Then He said to them, 'O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?' And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Luke 24:25, 26, NKJV).

Late in the afternoon on the day of the resurrection, two of Christ's followers were on their way to Emmaus, a little town about seven miles from Jerusalem. As they talked about the events over the Passover weekend, a stranger drew near and walked with them. Jesus had joined them, but their eyes were restrained and they did not recognize Him.

They were absorbed in there gloom and disappointment and continued their conversation. They were reasoning in regard to their experiences with Christ and the lessons He had taught them and they could not comprehend the events that had taken place regarding Him. Jesus said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" One of them, Cleopas by name, answered Him and said, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have not known the things which happened there in these days?"

Jesus said to them, "What things?"

"So they said to Him, 'The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was 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 crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angles who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."

"Then He said to them, 'O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?' And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Luke 24:19-26).

Subsequently, Jesus revealed Himself to them and vanished from their sight. They said to one another, "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32). And they immediately returned to Jerusalem to report to the disciples their encounter with Jesus.

For further study of the prophecies of Christ in the Old Testament.