We are all on the road to Emmaus
This is the 23rd study in a series of studies about shadows in scripture
“But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.” Acts 24:14 (NKJV)
From the 66 chapters of the book of Isaiah to the comparatively brief 4 chapters of Malachi, there are 17 books attributed to prophets who lived, and worked, during the times of the kings of Israel and Judah. The records of their works covered a relatively short period of time, estimated to be about 300 years. The names that head up these books are translations from the Latin, which in turn are translations from the Greek, which, in their turn, are translations from the original Hebrew. In an exercise of nominative determinism, these names of the prophets are hugely revealing: Isaiah translates as ‘salvation of the Lord’, Ezekiel as ‘God’s strength’ and Malachi as ‘my messenger’.
They prophesied of events that were to happen in the short term, but also, their prophecies stretched beyond the times of the kings, beyond the captivities of Israel and Judah. They took in the revelation of a Saviour, Jesus Christ, with some details of his life – and beyond that – beyond our time, into a future yet to be experienced. We know relatively little about the prophets themselves. There are some historical facts, some traditional stories, some details about how God called them, worked with them, and sometimes required them to suffer. What we can be sure of is the content of their prophecies.
We may not always see reflections of Jesus in these seventeen prophets, but we see him time and time again in their writings. Jesus himself went through their writings with the two downcast disciples on the road to Emmaus, after his crucifixion and resurrection. (Luke 24:13-35). It was a walk of about seven miles, taking most people about 2.5 hours. Maybe they went slowly – there was a lot of material to cover. These disciples, and his other followers, knew these writings from ‘the Prophets’, but they needed to see them in the light of the person they had followed, whom they had seen performing miracles, teaching with authority, and then seen dying on the cross. If they had already had this comprehension of the prophetic writings, that conversation would have not been necessary.
Prayer
We are blessed to have revealed the knowledge of Christ, not only through the gospel accounts of his earthly life, but also through the words of the Prophets. Thank you Father for the words in the Bible that provide assurance in our Saviour. Amen.
Study by Maggie Mitchell
Maggie Mitchell attends the Market Harborough congregation of Grace Communion International
Local congregation:
GCI Market Harborough
9 The Point
Rockingham Road
Market Harborough
LE16 7QU
Meeting time:
Sunday 4.00 pm
Local congregational contact:
Sinead Henderson
Email: sinead.henderson@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church