The post-resurrection story of Jesus' encounter with the two men on the road to Emmaus is one of the most fascinating and instructive accounts in the New Testament. As the risen Lord joins these travelers on the road he finds them gripped with fear and grief as they attempted to sort out the meaning of Jesus' death. This story reminds us of the awesome patience of God in his willingness to walk with us along life's journey until he is recognized as our waiting Father An incredibly powerful self-expression in this account is the acknowledgement of the travelers after Jesus had departed from them that "their eyes were opened and they recognized him," and in the beautiful heartfelt expression, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" In the hard moments of life's journey our hearts, not unlike these two travelers, may be dried up by disappointment and fear. But with this new revelation dawning on their minds and the burning within their hearts in recognition of Jesus as a living Savior and friend their doubt and fear was subdued by a renewed joy and hope. Our recognition of Jesus in the midst of life's fiery ordeals is the key to the revival of our spirit and the change of our countenance. Our personal victory awaits our own recognition of the "Teacher" - the Risen Jesus who walks with us along our difficult road DR. DOUGLAS J. MCKAY received his undergraduate degree at William Jennings Bryan College, his graduate degree at Reformed Theological Seminary, and his doctorate at Trinity Theological Seminary. Dr. McKay has worked as a business entrepreneur for more than twenty years and has served with many church and para-church ministries throughout his adult life. He and his wife Rita reside in Colorado.
