THE words, from which I want topresent a simple message, will be found in the Gospel according to St. Luke,the 24th chapter and the 31st verse: "Andtheir eyes were opened, and they knew Him." Some time since, I preached asermon with the words "Jesus Himself" as the text; and as I went home I said tothose who were walking with me: "How possible it is to have Jesus Himself withus and never to know it, and how possible to preach of, and to listen to, allthe truth about Jesus Himself and yet not to know Him." I cannot say what adeep impression was made upon me as I thought over it.

Now these disciples had spent a most blessed time with Jesus, but ifthey had gone away before He revealed Himself that evening, they would neverhave been sure that it was Jesus, for their eyes were holden that they shouldnot know Him. That is, alas, the condition of a great multitude in the Churchof Christ. They know that Christ has risen from the dead. They believe, andthey very often have blessed experiences that come from the risen Christ. Veryoften in a time of Convention, or in time of silent Bible reading, or in a timeof the visitation of God's grace, their hearts burn; and yet it can be said ofa people whose hearts are burning within them, that they did not know it wasJesus Himself.

And now if you ask me what is to be the great blessing to be sought, myanswer is this: Not only should we think about Jesus Himself and speak aboutHim and believe in Him, but we should come to the point that the disciples inthe text arrived at, "and they knew Him." Everything is to be found in that.