In the process of revealing God’s plan of salvation for mankind, God established His annual Holy Days around the harvest seasons in the Middle East (Leviticus 23: 9-17, Exodus 23: 14-16). Just as His people harvested their crops around these three festival seasons, God’s Holy Days show us how He is harvesting people for eternal life in His Kingdom. The Holy Days have meanings that build upon each other. Together they progressively reveal how God works with humanity in His plan of redemption. Jesus foretold His crucifixion in John 12: 23-24 when He said “…Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” There are seven weeks plus one day from the Feast of First Fruits (Jesus’ resurrection) to the next Biblical Festival which is Pentecost. In Leviticus 23: 15 the Lord commanded Israel to bring a measure of barley from their harvest to the Temple as an offering known as the Omer and begin the counting of the Omer each night leading to Pentecost. It is a time of preparing for the celebration of harvest. It was a time to focus on redemption and freedom from bondage and personal growth—to make each day count. The Jews of that time would have known the details of the 50 days of Counting the Omer which begin on the second day of Passover—the day of Resurrection. Therefore, when we read the account of Jesus’ encounter with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus late in the afternoon on Resurrection Day we gain a whole new perspective and meaning. Let’s examine some details about this scripture in order to make this passage come alive to us. We don’t know much about the two disciples except that they were traveling to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. (Luke 24: 13) Jesus had appeared privately to the women in the garden, but He chose a little-known road and two little-known people for His first appearance in a place used by the general public. They had heard the news that Jesus’ body had disappeared and along with most of the disciples did not believe that Christ had risen. They were apparently perplexed and in wonder of what they were being told about Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus listened in on their conversation, but they didn’t recognize Him. They acknowledged that He was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people and hoped He was the One who was going to redeem Israel (vv. 19-21). Jesus did not show them the prints of the nails in His hands to prove His identity but He said to them: “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Jesus started with the first five books written by Moses and then reminded them of what the prophets had spoken about Him. These two disciples had the privilege of hearing the incarnate Word, Christ the risen Lord, explain the written Word, the Holy Scriptures. In so doing, the Lord Jesus gave them the great key to the understanding of Scripture—that He Himself is its subject and that in Him the entire Book finds its unity. He was invited to come to their house and “abide” with them. This is a very important principle—they had to “abide” with Him—spend time with Him and learn of Him. It was when He sat at the table with them and took bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them that they knew Him and their eyes were opened to truly SEE JESUS! The emphasis was on the Word and spending time learning and recognizing Him in the Word! This morning I read some words of wisdom from my Bible teacher Roberta from years ago that resonated with me and I pray will do the same for you. She said: “The more you nourish your own soul by feeding on the Word the more likely is He to use you. It is one thing to be the advocate of the Word and another to be the disciple of it. And though it may sound strange at first, it is far easier to teach its lessons than to LEARN them. We need not to covet information about Him as the power to USE WHAT WE KNOW.” As we walk out the counting of the Omer (tonight is 24th) may we truly SEE JESUS as the disciples did as He prepared them for His ascension to the Throne and as He prepares us for His return. He is LORD OF THE HARVEST!