Our Lord walked up and down the land of Palestine teaching and performing miracles, thus presenting Himself as the Messiah of Israel, the Savior who had been anticipated throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. Recorded for us in Luke 24:15-35 is a beautiful narrative that occurred as two discouraged followers of Jesus walked backed to their homes from Jerusalem. Three days earlier, there had been a crucifixion, a common site in Roman days, but this one was unique for on a Roman cross had been placed One who was called Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. These followers of this Jesus had believed that He was the Messiah of Israel, the One who had come to be the sacrifice for sin. That had been taught through the ritual worship beginning in the Garden and continued through the Tabernacle and later the Temple. An innocent lamb would be slain, and offered on the altar for sinful man. John had declared that this Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Yet, now this Jesus had been crucified. Could they have been wrong? Had they placed their faith in a mere man instead of the God-Man who would fulfill the promise of Immanuel, God with us? Suddenly there was an unexpected traveler walking along side of the two men. Knowing their state of mind, this Traveler began to teach them from the Hebrew Scriptures concerning Himself. It was important that these men believe by faith rather than see, so our Lord prevented them from recognizing who He was. They needed to be taught the Word and see in it, the Messiah, the Christ, by hearing the words of their own prophets. And so the God-Man presented Himself to them demonstrating from Scripture that He was the long awaited Deliverer, the One of whom Moses spoke, the Lamb and Redeemer for whom Abraham longed. Later that day, as the Lord broke bread in their presence, they suddenly realized that is was the risen Savior who had been in their presence, walking along side of them, teaching them concerning Himself. Yes, this Jesus who was called the Christ had risen from the dead. Sadness and discouragement turned to joy and the disciples ran to tell others of the risen Savior. So today, that same message goes across the nations; Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Messiah and all who place their faith in Him have eternal life. The Apostle John, an eye witness of the risen Savior, wrote --
…“the testimony is this: God has given us eternal life, and this life has its source in his Son. Whoever has the Son has this life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”(1 John 5:11-12 TEV)