Heartburn

They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” Luke 24:32. Heartburn, that distressing condition caused my excess acid in the stomach, is familiar to us all, but what, pray tell, are the disciples talking about? To get a better idea, we need to understand the cause of this heartburn.

The Bible tells us that on the very same day as Jesus’ resurrection, two of the disciples were walking along the road to Emmaus, which was about 7 miles from Jerusalem.  As you can imagine, they were discussing the events of the last few days.  Because their minds were in such turmoil, their eyes did not recognize Jesus when he walked up beside them. Using their blindness to his advantage, Jesus asked them what they had been talking about.   “Well, duh”, they replied, “Where have you been?  Behind some rock?” ( I paraphrase.)  At this point they were truly blinded by deep sorrow, and a belief system so fractured with doubt that it could register on the Richter scale.  For them, this was the end of the story, Jesus’ body was missing from the tomb, and all hope was quickly fading. And now this guy wants to know what’s been going on….give me a break!   Jesus confronts them with these words, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” v. 25-27.

 Even at this point they still don’t recognize him, but light is beginning to filter in, as he explains the events scripturally.  The disciples urge this wise man to stay as they settle in for the night.  Then an amazing thing happens, Jesus shares a meal with them. “When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.” v. 30-31.  It took the familiar act of breaking and blessing bread to open their eyes. Now we come to the burning hearts verse.  Jesus left them, but not before opening their eyes, and the word of God.  What they had heard, over and over, while Jesus was with them, hadn’t really taken root until he opened and confirmed it over a meal.

Not unlike the heartburn that occurs from too much food intake, the consumption of Jesus’ words, caused a supernatural heat or fervency to develop in their hearts.  Unlike dyspepsia that causes us to seek a bottle of  Rolaids, the heartburn they were feeling was energizing, spurring them on to continue His mission, by spreading the word.  Is the love you have for Jesus so strong that your heart burns within you?  If not, pick up his word, seek him out, He needs our hearts to be on fire….it’s an amazing, not uncomfortable feeling!!