Behold the compassion of the resurrected Jesus! One might think that in the enthusiasm of His newly resurrected life He is eager to be off on His new assignment in the heavenly sanctuary, but no, His heart is with His disappointed, discouraged ones here. His name is still "Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" (Matt. 1:23).
Two men who have believed He was the true Messiah are on the path in their walk to Emmaus that afternoon of the "first day of the week" of the resurrection. Never have they known such crushing heart pain. It goes deeper than any humans can fathom for it is the pain of defeat in the great controversy with Satan; the death of the Christ means the ultimate victory of Satan. These two men feel they must conclude this. They are not mourning the loss of their own personal salvation so much as they mourn the grand defeat of God. The world (yes, the universe) is now to be plunged into hopeless despair! "We were hoping that [Jesus of Nazareth] would redeem Israel" (Luke 24:21)--and to them "Israel" was the only hope of the world.
The heart of the resurrected Jesus is with them as they trudge disconsolately toward Emmaus. He now teaches us that His heart is with all disappointed people all over the world, in all time. He joins these two men incognito and gently encourages them with Bible truth. "Beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (vs. 27). He is already doing His work as our High Priest! And so He ministers to you today--if you will let Him join you in your "walk."
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