The word “HOLDEN” means simply, held back; restrained.  For wise reasons he held back the sight of their eyes that they should not know him.  Had they known him at first sight, it would have interfered with and prevented the accomplishment of his gracious purpose to make himself known in the “breaking of bread.”  In this very act he has taught his people one of the most precious lessons in all the Christian’s experiences.  He is the Bread of eternal Life.  His whole Word is but one great loaf, and he is that loaf.  And how my soul quivers with the thought that if we invite him in as these loving disciples did, and ask him to abide with us, he will take a seat with us at table, and break unto us the Bread of Life.  Our spiritual eyes will be opened, and we shall joyfully know him.  Then will

  “Our hearts grow warm with heavenly fire;
  And kindle with a pure desire;
  While our blest Savior from above
  Feeds all our souls with holy love.”

None but those

        “that know the Lord,
  And taste the sweetness of his Word,”

can ever know the joys of his salvation.

III.  “JESUS HIMSELF WENT WITH THEM.”

We are not informed how many of the sixty furloughs they had already passed over on their way when “Jesus himself drew near, and went with them;” but from the loving kindness of our Lord we readily conclude they had not gone very far.  “Can a mother forget her sucking child?  Yea, she may forget; yet will not I forget thee.”  He knew the depth of their disappointment and the grief that followed when they could say:  “We hoped that it was he which should redeem Israel.” “We hoped—­;” but alas! all hope is now forever gone.  It lies buried with him in his tomb.

If one born blind could unexpectedly open his eyes to see the light of the morning sun in a cloudless sky, the surprise and joy could not be greater than were these to the two sitting at the table.  They forgot to eat.  They were so filled with the sight of the Lord that their hunger for that which merely represented him was all gone.  They not only saw the proof of his resurrection; but in him they felt the resurrection of their own buried faith, and hope, and love.

“They rose up that very hour,—­” I do not believe they sat still one minute after he vanished out of their sight—­“and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, ... saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.”  This was to them one of the wonders connected with his rising, as Simon had so shamefully denied him so shortly before.  But such is the fullness of his grace, that where sin abounds, grace does much more abound unto all such as are willing to receive it.

Some people do not believe the story of the resurrection.  But, strange to say, they can believe something a hundred times less reasonable, and absolutely false.  They can believe that a LIE has done more to better the condition of mankind in this world than all the truth that has ever been told.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the keystone to the great arch upon which rest all the truths of Divine Revelation.  Destroy this, and the arch, with all upon it, falls a pile of ruins.