As I’ve been reflecting on Jesus’ conversation with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, I was struck by the thought that these two people must have been completely amazed by how well Jesus understood the Scriptures. He didn’t have to open His red-lettered version of the King James Bible with tabs that help Him find the beginning of each of the 66 books. He knew the law, the writings, and the Prophets like the back of His hand. He spoke completely from memory, but even more, from a perfect comprehension of the meaning and significance of each account. They remarked in Luke 24:32 how “…our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” This deep understanding of the Scriptures, this transformative power, is what we should strive for in our own spiritual journeys.
When Jesus broke the bread with them, their eyes were opened, and they recognized who He was. There’s a chance that they were with Him a few nights earlier in the upper room when he did that the first time, and that gave His identity away. But it really appears to be a work of God in their hearts and their minds rather than anything that might be easily explained by circumstances. As they participated with Him in this intimate communion, it seems to have made them hungry for more. That’s what real, honest, patient time with God in His word will do for us, too. It makes our hearts burn within us and long for more!
I don’t want to fall into the trap of reading the Scriptures looking for little bits of inspirational gems to prompt my emotions to strengthen me for my daily duties. I want more than an anecdotal inspirational thought. I don’t want to randomly open the bible to a page, point my finger at a verse, and see what God has to say to me as if he were a fortune cookie. I don’t want to simply focus on passages that make me feel good regardless of whether we understand the context or not. I want the big picture! Like the Greeks who came to Philipp in John 12:21, I want to see Jesus! I want to understand what God has done and what God is doing in the world. I don’t want to settle for dry doctrine or even factual knowledge for the sake of knowledge. I want new discoveries from the text of scripture to lift my spirit above the mundane existence I have and help it soar into the heavens. I want my heart to burn as I get to know more about Christ. I want my heart to melt as I grasp of the glory and beauty of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. This pursuit of a deeper understanding of the scriptures is not just a desire, it’s a necessity for our spiritual growth and fulfillment.