The Thousand Year Walk

By Chaplain (Col) Stephen W. Leonard, USA, Ret.

In a walk to Emmaus the afternoon of Resurrection Day, Jesus met and walked with two of His disciples. He took a thousand-year walk with them from Genesis to Malachi. He went from the first book to the last, showing them the myriad places the Scriptures set him forth. Writing the Old Testament took about one thousand years to complete.

His walk through these thousand years was the finest Bible school EVER taught by anyone, as the Master did himself! Jesus pointed out to the two of them the passages which particularly spoke of Him. What a time “to be a fly on the wall!” But, alas, that couldn’t be.

But we can so study the Word of God that we may draw out and understand these passages eventually. We come to know that Jesus is presented in the Old Testament on practically every page. Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, the promised Messiah, was thoroughly prophesied in the Old Testament!

We do not know how long it took the three of them to walk the seven miles to Emmaus, but it was long enough for Jesus to cover Genesis to Malachi to the satisfaction of the two privileged students. “How their hearts burned within them!”

These two had too much within their hearts and heads to convey to the apostles and disciples when they joined them back in Jerusalem in a locked and private room where they hid from Roman soldiers.

But how surprised were they when the Risen Jesus suddenly appeared in their midst, having passed the locked door supernaturally? He showed them the marks of crucifixion on His body, which were enough “bonafides” as to who He was. He even took a broiled fish and ate before them.

Astounding, personal event and appearance of Jesus on the first day of His resurrection! He is risen indeed! His disciples understood that implicitly. Doubting Thomas was added to the believing number, one week later. Jesus lives!

Encouragement