Devotion for Sunday, 1 May 2011 Anno Domini

Devotion for Sunday, 1 May 2011 Anno Domini
13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. (Luke 24:13-35)

This account today regarding the two men travelling to Emmaus has profound sacramental implications. Space will not permit a full study, but we shall use what space we have.

These two disciples are travelling from Jerusalem to Emmaus on the day of the Resurrection and they are despondent over what they perceive to be the conclusion of their walk with Christ. “And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.” Jesus Himself and they did not know Him! How often we suffer nagging doubts and believe God is far from us while He walks right at our side! They were discussing ‘all these things which had happened in the last three days: “What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?” Cleopas responds, “Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?” Amazing! ALL THESE THINGS are all about Christ, and these two ask Him if He is a stranger in Jerusalem? There is much spiritual irony in that question. “What things?” God asks us to be precise in our prayers. What troubles thee? Tell me so we can turn your sorrow to joy! “And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him, But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.”

These men were looking for a temporal deliverer to free them from Roman rule. Because they had not correlated the Old Testament prophecies with all that Christ was, and said, they were looking for the wrong thing. If we listen intently, and study the scriptures diligently, it will be less likely that the words of any lover of filthy lucre can deceive us. “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?” Had they not listened? Had they not believed what He Himself told them, or at least, what the prophets had said concerning Him? “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” ALL the Scriptures give testimony of Him. He is in the first verse of the Book of Genesis and the last verse of Revelations – and all in between!

And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.” The Spaniards have a beautiful way of referring to Christ – Jesu es el Senor! Jesus is a gentleman! And so He is! He will not impose on our liberties, but He will certainly provide us the only true Liberty to be had. The men, marveling at His words, insisted that He “Abide with us.” Isn’t that EXACTLY what Christ does when He comes to us – not as a casual visitor, but He comes to abide (live) with us? So He came into the home of the two disciples. “And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.” Yes, BREAD! Here is a striking allusion to the benefits of the Holy Communion! He took bread, and blessed it, and break it, and gave to them. What are the benefits of the Communion? We partake, in a most powerful way, of the Presence of Christ Himself. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24). Our eyes are more opened to know His presence at Communion, and He has commanded us to do it. And though “…He vanished out of their sight.” He still was with them – abiding! We may not see the physical Presence of Christ at Communion Hour, but He is there with us as much as with the men of Emmaus. The grain which fell into the earth and died was our Lord Jesus Christ. The fruit from that grain has produced, and is producing, thousands of grains. The Communion of the Lord’s Supper is a close Communion with Christ and, too, all those who are the fruit of that single grain. Do you have the nature of that Grain? Are you, too, producing fruit?