April 25
“Then they (Jesus and the two disciples) drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, ‘Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.’ And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight,” Acts 24:28-31.
It was about a seven mile journey from Jerusalem to the little village of Emmaus. We do not know at what time of the day they began their journey, and we do not know at what point along the way Jesus joined the two disciples. In any case, it was a lengthy Bible class, during which Jesus expounded what was written in the Scripture concerning Himself, beginning with Moses and all the prophets. It must have taken a number of hours.
As they neared the village of Emmaus, Jesus indicated that He would keep on going. The two disciples did not want to see Him leave. They said, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” What Jesus had told them from Holy Scripture had made such an impression upon them that most likely they wanted to hear some more!
Oh, if only we would always be so eager to hear more and more from the Word of God! Yes, the words of the psalmist really were fulfilled in the request for Jesus to stay with them longer: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path,” Psalm 119:105. What Jesus had told the two disciples touched their hearts and overwhelmed them. They experienced the joy that comes to us when we hear the glorious Gospel message of God’s great love for us. God so loved us that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem us. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the Word of reconciliation,” 2 Corinthians 5:19. The message of the Gospel with its full assurance of the forgiveness of sins and its invitation to believe in Jesus as God’s Son and our only Savior sends us on our way rejoicing.
Jesus responded to the invitation of the two disciples. “He went in to stay with them.” It was the evening hour and the time for the evening meal. The three of them sat at the table. Jesus took the bread that was on the table, blessed it, and shared it with the two disciples. In that very moment, their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus! No longer was He the stranger who had walked along the road with them and who explained to them the Scriptures.
That scene at the Emmaus table should move us to pray, “Heavenly Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit, open our eyes to see Jesus revealed in the Scriptures! Open our eyes to see Him as the Son of God and our only Savior, who suffered and died to redeem us and who rose from the grave to conquer sin, death, and the devil for us!”
“Abide with us, the day is waning,” Thus prayed the two while on the way;
We read that Thou, O Lord, remaining, Didst all their doubts and fears allay.
Incline Thine ear, Thou King of Grace, When, praying thus, we seek Thy face.
At eventide, Thy Spirit sending, Help us, O Lord, our watch to keep,
In prayer devout, before Thee bending, Ere we our eyelids close in sleep;
Confessing sin in deed and word, With hope of mercy from the Lord. Amen.