Hearts Burning on the Road
Month 11: The Cross & the Empty Tomb · Walking in the Spirit
Today's Scripture
Read together: Luke 24:13-32
13 That same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 And as they talked and deliberated, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stood still, with sadness on their faces. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked Him, “Are You the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in recent days?” 19 “What things?” He asked. “The events involving Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “This man was a prophet, powerful in speech and action before God and all the people. 20 Our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to the sentence of death, and they crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping He was the One who would redeem Israel. And besides all this, it is the third day since these things took place. 22 Furthermore, some of our women astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 but they did not find His body. They came and told us they had seen a vision of angels, who said that Jesus was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had described. But Him they did not see.” 25 Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself. 28 As they approached the village where they were headed, He seemed to be going farther. 29 But they pleaded with Him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus—and He disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Memory Verse
“He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’””— Luke 24:6-7 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Romans 14-16
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Welcoming one another, living to the Lord, and Paul's final greetings.)The Heart of It
That same Sunday, two disciples walked the seven miles to a village called Emmaus. They were talking sadly about everything that had happened. They had hoped Jesus was the Redeemer. Now the cross seemed to have crushed that hope. Then "Jesus Himself drew near and went with them," but "their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him" (). Jesus did not show them right away who He was. He walked beside them and gently asked what they were talking about. Then He did something wonderful. "Beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (v. 27). He opened the Bible and showed them that the Messiah had to suffer before entering His glory. The cross was never a defeat. It was the plan all along. Only later, when He broke bread at the table, were their eyes opened. They knew it was Him. And just like that, He vanished from their sight.
Here is the part that points us to the Spirit-filled life. Afterward they said to each other, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" (v. 32). That burning was the work of God in their hearts. The living Word and the written Word had met. This is exactly what the Holy Spirit still does. He takes the Scriptures and makes them come alive. He warms cold hearts. He opens blind eyes to see Jesus on every page. We don't make that fire ourselves. We ask for it. When your family opens the Bible, you can pray, "Holy Spirit, make our hearts burn. Show us Jesus." A Spirit-filled home does not merely read the Bible as information. It is a home where the Word becomes a meeting place with the risen Christ Himself.
Around the Table
Two sad friends were walking. Jesus came and walked with them. But they didn't know it was Him! When He shared a meal with them, their eyes opened and they were so happy.
Let's do it: "Walk" in place together and pray, "Jesus, walk with me today and help me know You!"
Jesus opened the Scriptures and showed them how the whole Bible pointed to Him. Their hearts "burned." They felt God working inside them as they learned.
Let's talk: When has the Bible ever made your heart feel excited, or comforted, or warm inside?
The disciples' hope had been crushed by the cross. They didn't understand that the cross was the plan. Jesus showed them from "Moses and all the Prophets" that the Messiah had to suffer first ().
Let's go deeper: The "burning heart" came as the Spirit opened the Word. How is that different from just reading the Bible as a textbook? How could you invite that into your own Bible reading?
💬 Conversation Starter
Have you ever not known someone you knew until they spoke or did something familiar?— The disciples didn't know it was Jesus until He opened the Scriptures and broke the bread.
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Some people say the disciples only "felt" that Jesus was with them. But this account is the opposite of wishful thinking. These men did not expect Him. They did not even know it was Him at first. Only the real, physical breaking of bread convinced them. They reasoned from Scripture and evidence, not from feelings alone.
For Dad · Go Deeper
The Emmaus road teaches a quiet but vital truth about Scripture. The Bible is about Jesus from beginning to end. He read Himself into Moses and the Prophets. That means the Old Testament is not a separate, lesser book. It is the long runway to the cross and the empty tomb. As you lead family worship, aim higher than moral lessons. "Be brave like David." "Be kind." Those have their place. But the deepest aim is to help your children see Jesus on the page, because that is what sets hearts on fire. And here is the searching part. You cannot give your children a burning heart by technique. Pray before you open the Word, for them and for yourself. Ask the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do. He opens eyes. He warms hearts. He reveals the risen Christ. The fire is His to light. Our job is to keep showing up with the Word open.
Draws on: Sidney Greidanus, Preaching Christ from the Old Testament.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that Jesus walks with us. Thank You that Your Word is full of Him. Holy Spirit, make our hearts burn as we read. Open our eyes to see Jesus. Turn our reading into a real meeting with the risen Lord. In Jesus' name, amen."
When the Spirit opens the Word, our hearts burn. We meet the risen Jesus on every page.