Cut and Burning Hearts

 Acts 2:14a,36-41; Luke 24:13-35

We read further in Acts 2 with Peter continuing his preaching to the Jews but here you have the reaction of his audience. They are said to be “cut to the heart” – many of these could have been part of the crowd which had shouted, “Crucify him!” Thus, they feel guilty, “cut to the heart” and ask how they can remedy this. Peter tells them to repent and be baptized and 3,000 persons were added to – became Christians, Christ’s followers.

This is quite a contrast to the two walking on the road to Emmaus in our Luke passage. These men had been in Christ’s company – had heard Jesus’ words but were still confused and perhaps disappointed since they hoped he would redeem Israel but instead he died an awful death. They are discussing this on the road when Jesus, unbeknownst to them, joins them and listens to their account. Now these are men who knew their scriptures but didn’t quite get it. So, Jesus explains that the Messiah must suffer things before he went into glory and then he goes through the history of Moses and the prophets – the things told about Christ in all the scriptures.

Being hospitable Jews, they urge him to stay with them. It’s not until he takes the bread and blesses it that their eyes are finally open, and they recognize him as the risen Jesus.

I love the one’s response to this. He says, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he opened the scriptures to us?”  Was it finally seeing what God’s plan was that from suffering would come glory? Are they burning with understanding and perhaps hope to overcome their disappointment in the way that things played out? Is it a glow of realization that God’s plan wasn’t over? Yet they don’t recognize Christ till he sits down with them and breaks the bread.

When was the last time you felt “cut to the heart” - convicted of a sin you’ve done? A cut that can only be healed by confessing it to God and repenting. Have you ever read a scripture which seemed written just for you to help you through a challenging time or time of disappointment. Does your heart burn within you as you see how it applies to your life?

In the Christian life we will encounter cut hearts and hopefully burning hearts to inspire us that God still has a plan for us. Amen

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