rd day of which he had spoken was not ended and yet they
were hopelessly turning their backs upon Jerusalem; heavenly messengers
had sent them an announcement of cheer which they refused to receive.

It was not strange, therefore, that Jesus rebuked them: "O foolish men,
and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his
glory?" It is noticeable that Jesus did not chide them for refusing to
accept his own words, or those of their friends, or those of angels; they
were rebuked for not believing the Old Testament. They had accepted it in
part; as men often accept just so much as suits their prejudices and
tastes and notions; but they failed to believe in all that the prophets
had spoken, and particularly the predictions of Jesus' atoning death, and
of his return to the heavenly glory which he would share when he ascended.
They listened in wonder to his explanation of the Scriptures, and finally
as they were sitting at meat with him they discovered that they were in
the actual presence of their living Lord. As he disappeared from sight,
they hastened back to the disciples in Jerusalem and found them already
wondering at the news that earlier in the day Jesus had appeared to Peter.

No story tells us more impressively the truth that a divine Saviour walks
beside us all the way of our earthly journey. It is pathetic that our eyes
are so often dimmed by unbelief that we fail to realize his presence. We
walk and are sad while we might be rejoicing in his companionship. It may
be as the Scriptures are opened to us, or as we meet to break bread in his
name, that our blindness will be removed; and surely when the journey ends
and we enter the home toward which we are moving, we shall see him face to
face, and the vision will not fade in deepening twilight, but grow more
glorious through the eternal day.

M. Jesus Appearing To The Apostles. Ch. 24:36-43

36 And as they spake these things, he himself stood in the midst
of them, and saith unto them, Peace _be_ unto you. 37 But they
were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a
spirit. 38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and
wherefore do questionings arise in your heart? 39 See my hands and
my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit
hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having. 40 And when he
had said th