Burning Christian Desire
Luke 24:27-32 King James Version (KJV)
“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.
“And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 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?”
In this life that we live here on earth, there can be so many things that move us and so many things that make us happy. Some memories we will never forget, and some moments will always stay with us. There are those moments in time that we wish could last forever. There are some things in life that we desire to have, and there are some things in life that we just can’t live without.
This experience the disciples had with Jesus was one of those moments – a burning Christian desire – a moment in time that they didn’t want to end – a time where they could learn from the Son of God and from the Son of Man, where he sat down and went into detail on who he really was, and how the scriptures they were reading were pointing to him. These scriptures pointed to his Death, pointed to his Burial, and pointed to his Resurrection.
Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
I can only imagine the look on their faces when they realized that everything he told them had come true and that the prophets spoke of him in their writings.
Jesus says in John 5:39 (NKJV), “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”
Jesus was wounded, Jesus was bruised, and by Jesus stripes they were healed – healed from the very curse that caused them separation from God. And now they were face to face with Immanuel. What an awesome day that must have been, and what a grand experience to behold! What insight they must have received and what knowledge they must have attained! This is why their hearts burned, and this is why they didn’t want Jesus to leave. They got to the point that they couldn’t live without Jesus. They wanted more of Jesus, and anything else would not suffice.
This should be the feeling we all get when talking about Jesus. We should all be like little children, clinging to every word of our loving Father. We should never get to the place that we are burnt out with knowing Jesus; rather our hearts should burn with desire to be in his presence. Our hearts should burn with desire to worship the Great and Mighty King.
So many things in life seem to captivate our attention, and so many other things in life seem to bring us joy and excitement. One thing we must realize that we seem to overlook is that we are the Lord’s creation, and we are his joy.
It says in Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
We are that joy that was placed in front of Jesus. We are that joy that he was beaten for. We are that joy that he was bruised for, and we are that joy he hung on the cross and died for.
All he could see on that cross was us, and the blood dripping from his body was sinless blood full of love. If we could only sit back and realize that only what we do for Christ will last, and everything in this present life is only temporary and lasts for a moment – maybe then we will start to be captivated by Jesus, and maybe our hearts will burn for him as his heart burns for us. For the one who loves us won’t force us to love him. We must all make a Free will choice to follow and obey him.
He says in John 14:23, “…If a man love me, he will keep my words…”
The disciples who followed Jesus weren’t forced, but their decision to follow him was well worth it; for their names would be read for generations to come, and their stories would be told by many. Not only would Jesus burn in their hearts, but soon Jesus would remain in their hearts. And one Day, we who endure will be with him Forever!
Maranatha!