# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1912_S28 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 28 The Lutheran Pioneer. Three Pilgrims. When Christ was laid in the grave, His disciples were sad and troubled, and lost all hope. Two of them went on Easter Day from Jerusalem to a Village called Emmaus. With sorrowing hearts they talked together of all the sad things that had happened. On their way they were joined by a stranger who with words of sympathy induced them to unburden their minds. As they spoke of their lost hope, the stranger reminded them of what the prophets had spoken concerning the Messiah, and showed them that it all had been fulfilled by what oo they had seen in Jerusalem. THe proved to them from the Scriptures that Christ had to suffer and thus enter into glory. As they walked with the stranger, their hearts burned within them whilst listening to His words. And when they came to the village of Emmaus and the stranger wanted to go farther, they asked Him to stay with them, say- ing, “Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to tarry with them. As He sat with them at the table and broke bread, their eyes were opened, and they saw that He who had joined them on the road and had spoken to them was He whom their souls loved. It was Jesus who that very day had burst the bands of death and had come forth triumphant from the grave. How the disciples rejoiced when they saw their risen Savior! All their sadness was gone. Jesus lying in the grave was the end of their hopes, but Jesus risen filled them with the assurance of hope. With joyful hearts the two disciples that very night walked back to Jerusalem. ‘They had seen Jesus, the living Jesus; they had experienced the power of Ilis resurrection, and they hurried to tell others of that which made them glad. The risen Savior still speaks to us through His Word as we go our way through life. Does not the Christian’s heart often burn within him as he in his days of sorrow listens to the Savior’s words of comfort and love? And is not his heart filled with joy as he realizes that he has a living Savior, mighty to save and to help in all troubles and sorrows? This should move him to tell others of that which makes him glad and which alone can bring comfort and joy to those that are still walking in darkness. The true Easter joy must make the Christian zeal- ous in all mission work. Christians are pilgrims here on earth, and during their short. pilgrimage they should redeem the time and gladly help in spreading the Gospel of the risen Savior and the salvation in Him. When their journey ends and they enter their heavenly home and behold Him whom their souls love, what joy it will be for them to meet many who by their help in mission work here on earth have been brought to share with them the everlasting joys and bliss of heaven! A Fruit of Missions. Missionary Sack in Africa relates the follow- ing: — ; Hezekiah Poo came to us from another mission station. He and his family joined our congregation. He was a quiet and industrious man, and with the blessing of God was very prosperous. ‘Ihe disci- pline in his home was very strict, and seldom did one of his children miss school or church. ‘“TFor,” said he to me, “the child has nothing else to do than to obey; the parents care for everything. When I go to my work, the child must go to its work, it must go to school, and when, on Sunday, — I enter the church,-my children must already be there, and I want to see them.” It was very painful for us to see Hezekiah stricken with consumption and laid upon a sick- bed from which he was not to rise again. During his sickness his honse was a house of prayer, and