By: David Ettinger
If hopelessness had a face, it would be that of Cleopas or Eliezer.
As the two disciples of the crucified prophet Jesus Christ walked home on the road to Emmaus – located about seven miles north of Jerusalem – their words were stilted, their morale at rock bottom.
“And now what?” Cleopas sadly asked. “What does the future hold for Israel?”
“Surely,” reasoned Eliezer, “this Man was more than a false hope. After all, there is the report of His being seen.”
Cleopas smiled sardonically. “By the three women?” “Yes,” Eliezer confirmed, “by them.”
“My dear friend,” Cleopas replied, “God knows there are no more honest and righteous women in all of Israel than Mary of Magdala, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, but … their account of what they have seen … it defies logic.”
“I’m aware of that,” Eliezer said, “but why would they fabricate such a tale?”
“Fabricate?” Cleopas mused. “Friend, your use of words is much too harsh. No, these dear women would never fabricate such a story. On that we can agree.”
“Then is it agreed?” Eliezer hopefully asked.
“Not so fast. I only agree that their story was not made up,” Cleopas clarified, “but what they think they saw in their distress is entirely another matter.”
The thought was sobering to the two travelers as they continued their slow trek upon the crowded road. It was the Sunday following the Passover when Israelites throughout the nation journeyed to Jerusalem
to offer sacrifices at the great Temple. The ritual having passed, they were now returning home.
“But how could it be,” Eliezer wondered out loud, “that such things could have happened? I myself even refer-red to Him as ‘Lord.”‘”So did 1, friend, and most of me still believes in it.”
“But if He’s not ‘Lord’ – or at least a ‘lord’ of some kind – then what is He?”
“I’m not quite sure, Eliezer. But one thing does seem evident . . .”
The two stopped in the middle of the road as Cleopas considered his words. Eliezer fixed his gaze upon his friend.
“What I am sure of,” Cleopas finally said, “is that, despite the past three extraordinary years, our people seem no better off now than they did at the beginning.”
The apparent truth did little to bolster their sagging hopes as they slowly continued on the road to Emmaus.
The climate on the road was one of urgency.
Most of those traversing it were either in a great rush to leave Jerusalem far behind or, as the two disciples, simply needed to be away. For the next mile, Cleopas and Eliezer had little to say, their
hopelessness almost taking possession of them like a demon. The great joy they had felt just a week ago had been all but crushed. Each man fell deeper and deeper into his own thoughts, the events of the recent days constantly haunting their every step. For a mile they trekked in such a state until a voice shattered their meditations.
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” it said from behind, “but why are there so many people on the road?”
Cleopas and Eliezer stopped, turned, and regarded the Stranger. He seemed almost above the tumult all around them, as though the recent events had had no impact on Him. Before they could answer, the
Stranger continued.
“I have been following you for quite a while, and I noticed that you were deep in conversation,” He said, shielding His eyes from the quickly setting sun. “Forgive Me for being curious, but what was it
you were discussing together as you walked?”
The two disciples looked at each other, almost amazed at the Man’s naivete. “Surely,” Cleopas answered, choosing his words carefully so as not to offend, “You must have heard something of what has occurred
at Jerusalem these past days.”
“What do you mean?” the Stranger answered.
“Could it be, then,” Eliezer inquired incredulously, “that You are only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
If the question was meant as a rebuke, the Man did not take it that way. He simply smiled and asked, “What things?”
Once again, the disciples stared at each other and simply shrugged. “Join us,” Cleopas said, “and we will tell You.”
The Man nodded in appreciation and took His place between them. “Surely You have heard of Jesus of Nazareth,” Cleopas began.
The Stranger did not answer. Cleopas continued, “He was a prophet – and a great One. He was powerful in word. In fact, His very words seemed to pierce everyone who heard Him, whether they followed Him or not.” “But even more incredible,” Eliezer continued, “were His deeds. Though You may find this hard to believe, I assure You that I have seen this Man perform miracles not seen in Israel since the days of Elijah the prophet. I have seen it with my own eyes.”
“And so did I,” Cleopas confirmed. “Be it feeding masses of people on the scarcest amount of food, bringing sight to the blind, or even – and I tell You the truth though You will not believe it – raising the dead, there was no one in all of Israel like this Man.”
“Multitudes put their hope in Him,” Eliezer said, “as did the two of us.”
“It was just a week ago,” Cleopas said, “that He came to Jerusalem, and we were sure that He would at last proclaim Himself as the King of our people and redeem us from the hand of the Romans.”
The disciples paused as the hopelessness returned. The Man waited patiently for them to regain their composure and continue with the story.
“But it never happened,” Cleopas continued. “The chief priests and the rulers of our people instead viewed Him as a threat and handed Him over to the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate, who sentenced Him to death and had Him crucified. . .”
The Man was strangely quiet as He seemed to absorb every word like a dry sponge.
“But we had thought He was the One who was going to redeem Israel.” “And what is more,” Eliezer said, “this is the third day since all of this happened.”
The Stranger looked up as if to ask the significance of this. Cleopas obliged. “You see, Jesus of Nazareth had either hinted at or sometimes even proclaimed outright that, three days after His death, He would be raised from the dead.” He paused. “I’m not sure any of us – His followers, that is – really understood what this meant. All we do know is that this is the third day since His crucifixion and, well. .
Again, the hopelessness of the moment seemed to be getting the better of the disciples. Eliezer, however, was still looking for any hope he could find. There is just one thing further that I should mention,” he
said. “Three women, dear to us and loyal followers of Jesus of Nazareth, amazed us. They reported that they went to His tomb early this morning but didn’t find the body. They came and told us that they
had seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.”
Eliezer looked closely at the Man to see whether or not this last comment had caused Him to laugh in disbelief. The Stranger, however, had no response.
“Then some of our companions,” Cleopas continued, “went to the tomb themselves and found it just as the women had said, but Jesus they did not see.”
The disciples paused, not knowing exactly what to add to the story. “Do such things sound reasonable to You, Sir?” Cleopas at last asked the Man.
He stopped and shifted His glance to the two disciples. His very countenance seemed to change as the disciples were humbly struck with the Man’s air of authority.
“How foolish you are,” He chastised them, “and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”
Shocked, the disciples were speechless.
“Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter into His glory?”
Cleopas and Eliezer were too stunned by the reproof to answer. They simply looked at each other in bewilderment at this change of demeanor and then to the Stranger. Though they did not speak, their faces were full of questions.
Who are You? Why are we foolish? and Why are we slow to believe? their expressions seemed to be imploring.
Having captured their attention, the Man gently smiled and softened His tone.
“Come,” He said, “let’s continue to walk, and I will answer your questions.”
As the three began on their way, the Stranger took a few minutes to allow the two disciples time to collect their thoughts and prepare for His teaching. After enough time had passed, He spoke. “You see, you know but part of the story – the part you want to know – but your views are limited.”
“What do You mean. . .” Cleopas asked, “by saying we know but part of the story?”
“When you say,” the Man replied, “‘We had hoped that He was the One who was going to redeem Israel,’ you show how lacking you are in your understanding.”
“Then help us to understand more fully,” Eliezer urged.
The Stranger paused, smiled at both of them, then continued. “First of all, you saw the Christ as just a prophet – and with good reason. For indeed, it was Moses himself who taught, ‘The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken … and will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.”1 And so it has been fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth.”
Cleopas and Eliezer quickly glanced at each other, the Man’s words confirming what they had believed all along regarding this prophecy.”However,” the Stranger added, “you were expecting more than a prophet. Indeed, in the Messiah you sought, you were awaiting the King of glory who would rule the nations with a rod of iron and scatter the enemies of our people Israel.”
“But is that not the purpose of the coming Messiah?” Cleopas asked. “Were we wrong to expect such a redeemer?”
“The Scriptures speak plainly,” the Man replied. “Hear the words of Daniel the prophet: ‘And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”2
“Hear also the words of Isaiah: ‘For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The
Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.”3
“Listen further to the writings of the psalmist: ‘He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him, and his
enemies shall lick the dust. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him; all nations shall serve him.”4
“Yes, all this we know,” Cleopas insisted. “How then does this differ from what we already knew?”
“I am coming to that,” the Man assured them, “but first, I further want to confirm to you in what ways Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled the words spoken in the Scriptures.”
“We will listen eagerly,” Eliezer said.
“Very well then,” the Stranger said. “Think of the Christ’s mission in Jerusalem; do not the prophets tell us, ‘Rejoice greatly, 0 daughter of Zion; shout, 0 daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy King cometh unto
thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.”5
“And so was this fulfilled when Jesus of Nazareth entered Jerusalem just one week ago,” Cleopas said.
“You are right in saying so,” the Man replied. “But there is more. Think of the Christ’s mission in the Temple. The prophets proclaim: ‘And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall
come; and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.’6 And further, ‘Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to
his temple.'”7
“All of this we believe was fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth!” Cleopas insisted. “What more do we need to know? What more do we lack in our understanding of these things?”
“Much more,” the Man told them. “You are still far from understanding.”As the three continued along the road to Emmaus, Cleopas and Eliezer were confused and agitated. Surely they had a firm grasp of the Scriptures and to the person of the Messiah. With heads down, they wondered what it was they were lacking and what more there was that this Stranger could possibly teach them.
The western sky was now ablaze with orange-tinted clouds as the setting sun fashioned a stunning canvas on the horizon.
The glorious scene was in sharp contrast to the events of the past few days, the nightmarish memories which Cleopas and Eliezer thought they would never shake. And now they were trying to make sense of all that had transpired, hoping against hope that there was more to the story that they did not yet understand. In some inexplicable way, these hopes lay in the words of a Stranger who had joined them on the road, One who insisted they had little knowledge of what they spoke.
Despite the Man’s candor, the two disciples were not offended, all pride having been snuffed out with the life of Jesus of Nazareth. And now, if the Man could bring any understanding, any hope, He was more
than welcome.
“As I said earlier,” He began, “you were expecting a King of glory, who, as King David wrote, would ‘make thine enemies thy footstool.'”8
“Yes, this is what we were expecting,” Cleopas confirmed.
“But did you not realize,” the Man asked, “that the Messiah was not to be born in glory or majesty, but in humility and lowliness? Hear the words of the prophet Micah. ‘But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though
thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel.'” 9
“But Jesus was from Nazareth, not Bethlehem,” Eliezer reasoned.
“Check the records at the Temple,” the Man said, “and you will see that His earthly father, Joseph the carpenter, was forced to return to Bethlehem for the census decreed by Caesar Augustus, thereby allowing Mary to deliver the Messiah in that chosen city.”
The two disciples were silent, neither daring nor wishing to question the Stranger on these points.
“There is yet another error in your thinking regarding the Messiah.”
“And what is that, Sir,” Cleopas asked.
“The Jews thought that the Messiah would come solely as the deliverer of their people. And yet, how do you neglect the Scriptures that speak otherwise?”
“What Scriptures are those, Sir?” Eliezer asked.
“Once again,” He answered, “the prophet Isaiah provides the key. ‘Nevertheless, the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the
land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.’10 And again, ‘Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my Spirit upon him; he shall bring forth justice to the nations.'”11
“Yes, we have read these words in our synagogue,” Cleopas admitted, “but have never fully understood them. It is as You say, Sir.”
“And yet, this is not all,” the Man told them.
“Then we wait anxiously for You to tell us,” Eliezer said.
“Very well,” the Stranger said, and continued. “Did it never occur to you once during the three years of the Christ’s ministry that He would be rejected by His own people?”
“Never,” Cleopas said. “Why would we reject the One we’ve awaited so long?”
“Again, then,” the Man said, “hear the words of the prophets. ‘Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him like a tender plant, and like a root out of a dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness, and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.’12
“And not only Isaiah, but the Psalmist also speaks along these lines. ‘Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.’13 Was it not so that one of
the Christ’s close friends betrayed Him?”
Cleopas and Eliezer shot a quick glance at each other. Though they kept silent, it was evident that the word “Judas” was upon their lips.
As the Stranger spoke, the disciples felt their hearts pounding, as though they would actually explode within them. Sensing their desire to know more, the Man continued to enlighten them.
“Not only was the Christ to be rejected and betrayed, but the Scriptures tell us that He would be tried and condemned by and before men. ‘He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall
declare his genera-tion? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of my people was he stricken.’14 So, too, was the Christ to be smitten and abused. ‘Now gather thyself in
troops, O daughter of troops; he hath laid siege against us; they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.’15 And again, ‘I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the
hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.’16
“Do you disciples of Jesus of Nazareth not see these things as having all been fulfilled?” But He never gave them a chance to answer.
“Did you also not understand that the Christ would be mocked and ridiculed? ‘All they who see me laugh me to scorn; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would
deliver him; let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.'”17
“You speak right in all these matters,” Cleopas agreed, “but there’s one matter that still puzzles me.”
“And what is that?”
“His death by the Romans,” Cleopas said sadly. “What of His crucifixion?”
“Even this,” the Man assured them, “is spoken of by the prophets. ‘I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted within me. For dogs have compassed me; the
assembly of the wicked have enclosed me; they pierced my hands and my feet.'”18
“It is true,” said Eliezer on the verge of tears. “They did all this to Him and more.”
“And even as He died,” the Man continued, “the word of the prophets was being fulfilled: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’19 For indeed, His very death would be a sacrifice for sin. ‘But he was
wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.’20
Though the words were meant to bring comfort to the disciples, it was apparent that they were more downcast than before.
“Why are you so dejected?” the Stranger asked them. “Isn’t it clear from all that I have said that Jesus of Nazareth and the Messiah are one?”
“But He is dead,” Cleopas said. “We saw His death with our own eyes.”
To the disciples’ surprise, the Stranger smiled. “How quickly you forget,” He gently reminded them. “Think back to what the three women reported to you.”
“You mean that they saw Him alive again?” Eliezer asked.
“But how can this be?” Cleopas added.
“Once again,” the Man replied, “let the Scriptures speak: ‘For thou wilt not leave my soul in sheol, neither wilt thou permit thine Holy One to see corruption.’21 And again: ‘O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from sheol; thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.’22 And once more: ‘After two days will he revive us; in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.’23 You
see then,” He concluded, “what the women have spoken is the truth.”
The disciples were beginning to feel guardedly upbeat.
Still, their biggest doubt lay in the claims of the resurrection. Such happenings were simply beyond their grasp. And yet, everything the Stranger had told them was beyond doubt. He had proven His case to
them with such precision and boldness that they were totally stripped of any ability to argue. And, if all the Man had told them was undeniable truth, then how could they doubt the resurrection?
There was a pronounced silence after the Stranger’s discourse, Cleopas and Eliezer mulling over in their minds all that had been said. Such was their obsession with their thoughts that they hardly noticed
it was nearly dark and they had at last reached Emmaus. They turned toward their home, but stopped when they noticed that the Stranger did not turn with them.
“Please, Sir,” Cleopas beseeched Him, “stay with us for the night. Why travel in the dark? Dine with us, then set out again when it is light.”The Stranger looked at Cleopas, and once again came that now-familiar, gentle smile, His expression indicating His desire to continue on.
“Yes,” Eliezer added, “accept our modest invitation. Allow us to show to You some of the courtesy with which You have graced us.”
Still smiling and seeing the disciples were intent on having Him join them, the Man nodded His approval and turned with them on the road leading to Cleopas’ home.
Once there, the host extended the Near East custom of washing his guests’ feet, beginning with the Stranger, then Eliezer. As they went to the dinner table, there was an awkward silence as Cleopas hesitated. He began to make his way to his customary head of the table, then thought better of it. There was something about his unnamed Guest that almost demanded respect, even reverence. Cleopas could not explain the feeling, but nonetheless felt a compulsion to offer Him his spot.
“Please, Sir,” he said, never before feeling so humble, “sit in my place.”
The Stranger graciously accepted. After He was seated, Cleopas and Eliezer took their places on either side of Him.
When all three were seated, the Stranger, serving as host, picked up a piece of bread and held it before Him.
“Blessed art thou, 0 Lord our God,” He prayed, “King of the universe, who has given us this bread of the earth.”
The Man then broke the bread into three pieces. As the Host handed a piece to Eliezer, Cleopas watched. There was a familiarity to the scene, as though Cleopas had somehow, somewhere, witnessed it before.
He then fixed his gaze on Eliezer and marveled at what he saw. The very moment Eliezer took hold of the bread, his eyes began to bulge as both he and the Stranger stared at each other. Eliezer was motionless,
even after he had received the bread, and the Host turned away from him. Cleopas then faced the Stranger and noticed the same gentle smile which had been a hallmark of His countenance.
Suddenly, Cleopas felt his body begin to tremble. He could not explain this sudden burst of emotion as he stared at the Man who was holding out a piece of bread for him to accept.
Very slowly, Cleopas raised his hand and took the bread from the Stranger. For one brief moment, the Man kept his hand on the bread, hesitating before letting go. Suddenly, with his arm still out-
stretched, Cleopas dropped the piece of bread to the table as their eyes met. And as quickly as it had started, his body suddenly stopped trembling as the disciple was filled with a glorious feeling of
wonderment and awe.
And, without a trace, the Stranger was gone; He had simply vanished.
It was the loudest and most profound silence they had ever experienced.
Though it was only several moments, it seemed like days before Cleopas and Eliezer were able to speak. The room was saturated in awe, yet the disciples’ hearts were filled with exceeding joy. The combined
experiences of their lives could not have prepared them for this moment. They sat amazed and stupefied, knowing that every hope, every dream they had ever had was now at last realized.
As time itself seemed to stand perfectly still, the silence was finally broken by Eliezer, who could do no more than barely utter, “It was Him.” Cleopas struggled with all his might to concur with his friend,
but he could not do so; his faculties had simply not yet returned. And as he reflected on everything that had occurred on that incredible day, he thought back on the teaching of the Man they could not then
recognize as Jesus of Nazareth – risen as He said He would.
“I tell you, Eliezer,” he finally managed to say, “I knew all along that there was something about this Man. Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
“I felt it, too,” Eliezer said.
They allowed a few more moments for the general euphoria of the hour to settle in, then were suddenly filled with a sense of urgency.
“Eliezer,” Cleopas said. “Are we to keep this glorious news all to ourselves? Surely we are meant to return to Jerusalem and share it with our brothers.”
“Then let’s do so at once Cleopas as for the are no doubt as downcast as we were.”
They quickly forgot about their appetites and weariness. Without cleaning up and with total disregard of the darkness that now blanketed the land, the two disciples hastily put their sandals back on and
wrapped their cloaks tightly around their shoulders.
They were newly invigorated. They didn’t waste their time in conversation, for that would delay their mission. Moving speedily, they made far better time on their way to the blessed city than they
did on their return home. It was almost is if they were being carried along by angels, such was their vigor. And yet, despite the speed at which they were traveling, it seemed that they could not walk fast
enough, such was their overwhelming joy and their burning desire to share it. They even began to run part of the way and were amazed that they didn’t tire.
As the lights of the city came into view, the disciples finally were forced to slow down. Though this would have been the best time of all to break into an all-out sprint to the home of the apostles, they knew
that such conspicuous behavior would draw too much attention during these perilous days and would no doubt lead to their arrest.
So squelching every instinct they had to rush, they took control of themselves and slowed to a normal walking speed, keeping their heads down so as not to arouse suspicion. When at last the apostles’ hideout came into view, they checked first to make sure they were not being watched before knocking on the door.
“Who’s there?” came a voice from inside.
“It is I, Cleopas; and Eliezer is here with me.”
After a slight pause, the door was opened. “Welcome, brothers,” the apostle John greeted them warmly. “You were not followed, were you?” “We made sure we were not,” Cleopas answered.
“Then come, brothers,” John said. “We have the most wonderful news for you.”
The two disciples looked at each other questioningly. They had expected a scene of gloom, for that is how they left the brothers.
“You may believe this or you may not,” John said, “but I tell you the truth in our Savior. The Lord has appeared to Peter.”
Again Cleopas and Eliezer looked at each other, their expressions saying, “So, we are not the only ones.”
Cleopas then looked at Peter, who sat in a comer, almost radiating his astonishment. Cleopas could no longer hold himself back. “I, too, share with you this wonderful news . . .”
He now had the attention of the brothers. “The Lord has appeared to Eliezer and me as well… while we were on the road to Emmaus… He walked and talked with us, and even broke bread … it is a miracle!”
When Cleopas had concluded his story, the room was filled with hearty embraces and kisses of joy. And when they had at last used up the last measure of their euphoria, they all fell to their knees and worshipped.
Twill ransom them from the power of sheol; I will redeem them from death. 0 death, I will be thy plagues: 0 sheol, I will be thy destruction.” 24
The astounding truth had now permeated everyone who was listening that night. It was true! Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Messiah, had risen from the dead! Though He was brutally put to death by the
Romans, He was now alive again. He had appeared to too many of His followers. It was no coincidence. Jesus was alive!
“Lift up your heads, 0 ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your
heads, 0 ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.”25
The words fell upon Cleopas and Eliezer like a rejuvenating rain shower in the heat of summer. John’s words were like those of an angel as he opened the Scriptures to them at the conclusion of this most blessed of days.
“Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive. Thou hast received gifts for men, yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.”
The words needed no commentary, no explanation, for each one of them by itself moved to tears every man and woman in the room.
“Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he hath poured out his soul unto death; and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
As Cleopas and Eliezer listened to the sweet words, they felt tranquil yet ecstatic; at peace, yet stirred to the foundations of their souls. At last they were beginning to understand that man’s path to God had
been made gloriously accessible. Men were no longer – as they had been just hours ago – without hope, for Jesus had come to bring eternal life and to give it to anyone – Jew or Gentile – who would but accept the blessed truth that this risen Lord was indeed the Messiah and Savior of the entire world.
SCRIPTURES REFERENCES
1. Dt. 18:15,18 2. Dan. 7:14 3. Isa. 9:6-7
4. Ps. 72:8-9,11 5. Zech. 9:9 6. Hag. 2:7
7. Mal. 3:1 8. Ps. 110:1 9. Mic. 5:2
10. Isa. 9:1-2 11. Isa. 42:1 12. Isa. 53:1-3
13. Ps. 41:9 14. Isa. 53:8 15. Mic. 5:1
16. Isa. 50:6 17. Ps. 22:7-8 18. Ps. 22:14,16
19. Isa. 53:12 20. Isa. 53:5-6 21. Ps. 16:10
22. Ps. 30:3 23. Hos. 6:2 24. Hos. 13:14
25. Ps. 24:7-9 26. Ps. 68:18 27. Isa. 53:12
THE ABOVE MATERIAL WAS PUBLISHED IN ZION’S FIRE, MARCH-APRIL 1996, BY DAVID ETTINGER, PP. 16-22. THIS MATERIAL MAY BE USED FOR STUDY AND RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.
