LESSON II.—SABBATH, APRIL 14, 1900.
MEETING WITH THE DISCIPLES.
9 "And behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him. Then saith Jesus unto them, Fear not; go tell My brethren that they depart into Galilee, and there shall they see Me." 12 "And after these things He was manifested in another form unto two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country." 13 "And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was threescore furlongs from 14 Jerusalem. And they communed with each other of all these 15 things which had happened. And it came to pass, while they communed and questioned together, that Jesus Himself drew 16 near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that 17 they should not know Him. And He said unto them, What communications are these that ye have one with another, as 18 ye walk? And they stood still, looking sad. And one of them, named Cleopas, answering said unto Him, Dost Thou alone sojourn in Jerusalem and not know the things which are come 19 to pass there in these days? And He said unto them, What things? And they said unto Him, The things concerning 20 Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; and how the chief priests 21 and our rulers delivered Him up to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we hoped that it was He which 22 should redeem Israel. Yea and beside all this, it is now the 23 third day since these things came to pass. Moreover certain women of our company amazed us, having been early at the 24 tomb; and when they found not His body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that He 25 was alive. And certain of them that were with us went to the 26 tomb, and found it even so as the women had said: but Him 27 they saw not. And He said unto them, O foolish men, and 28 slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 29 Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter 30 into His glory? And beginning from Moses and from all the 31 prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the 32 things concerning Himself. And they drew nigh unto the 33 village, whither they were going; and He made as though He 34 would go further. And they constrained Him, saying, Abide 35 with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent. 36 And He went in to abide with them. And it came to pass, 37 when He had sat down with them to meat, He took the bread, 38 and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes 39 were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of 40 their sight. And they said one to another, Was not our heart 41 burning within us, while He spake to us in the way, while He 42 opened to us the Scriptures? And they rose up that very hour, 43 and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered to- 44 gether, and them that were with them, saying, The Lord is 45 risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they re- 46 hearsed the things that happened in the way, and how He 47 was known of them in the breaking of the bread." NOTE.—The texts inclosed in marks of parentheses, while not essential to the lesson study, will be found to throw much light upon the lesson, and are suggested for those who wish to study further. 1. After Jesus had ascended to the Father and returned, to whom did He show Himself? Matt. 28:9. 2. What message did He deliver? Verse 10. 3. On what occasion did Christ appear to two of His disciples later in the day? Mark 16:12. 5. What was the subject of their conversation? Verses 14, 15. 6. While thus conversing, who joined them on the way? Verse 15. 7. How did He introduce Himself? Verse 17. Note 1. 9. What did the disciples say concerning recent events? Verses 20, 21. (Isa. 50:6; 53:6-12.) 10. What reports had been brought to them? Verses 22-24. (Luke 24:1-10.) 11. What response did Jesus make to this recital? Verse 25. Note 2. 12. What question did He ask them? Verse 26. 13. How did He expound the Scriptures? In whom did He show that they all centered? Verse 27. (Acts 8:27-35.) 14. As they drew near to Emmaus, what did Jesus do? V. 28. 16. Under what circumstances did He make Himself known to them? Verses 30, 31. 17. After the Saviour left them, what did they say one to another? Verse 32. 18. Where did they then go? Verse 33. 20. What did the two report to the disciples? Verse 35. Side Lights.—"Desire of Ages," chapter 85. 1. It seems from the conversation that these disciples were anxiously desirous to learn, if possible, what these events all meant to their hopes of their future. Jesus did then as He does now for every anxious inquirer,—draw near to give them that for which their soul longed,—a knowledge of His plan of salvation. 2. The English word "fools" as represented to have been used by the Saviour on this occasion, was not one expressing lack of sense, but rather a gentle reproof for their forgetfulness of Scripture declarations that they had been taught to cherish, which, if remembered, would have saved them from their perplexity. The sense of the text would have been as well preserved had it been translated, "O thoughtless man." The Revised Version reads, "O foolish men." 3. THEY "constrained" Him, that is, pressed Him beyond measure. They had not been satisfied with His brief words so cheering, but urged His presence. This desire for His presence caused Him to tarry with them, and gave Him opportunity to make Himself known to them. Their experience in this line may be ours, and will be when we become as importunate as they.