Daily Devotion

It tells of two men who were walking towards the sunset. It has been suggested that this is the reason why they did not recognize Jesus. Emmaus was west of Jerusalem. The sun was sinking, and the setting sun so dazzled them that they did not know their Lord. However that may be, it is true that the Christian walks not toward the sunset but towards the sunrise. The Christian goes onwards not to a night that falls, but to a dawn that breaks---and that is what, in their sorrow and disappointment, the two had not realized.

 

It tells us of the ability of Jesus to make sense of things. The whole situation seemed to these two men to have no explanation. Their hopes and dreams were shattered. There is all the poignant, wistful bewildered regret in the world in their sorrowing words, "We were hoping that he was the one who was going to rescue Israel." They were the words of men whose hopes were dead and buried. Then Jesus came and talked with them, and the meaning of life became clear and the darkness became light. It is only in Jesus that, even in the bewildering times, we can learn what life means.  

 

It tells us the courtesy of Jesus. He may have passed on. He would not force himself upon them; he awaited their invitation to come in. God gave to the men the greatest and the most perilous gift in the world, the gift of free-will; we can use it to invite Jesus to enter our lives or allow him to pass on.

 

It tells how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. This may sound as if it meant the sacrament, but it does not. It was an ordinary meal in an ordinary house, when an ordinary loaf was being divided, that these men recognized Jesus. It is not only at the communion table that we can be with Jesus; we can be with Him at the dinner table.   He is not only the host in His Church; He is the guest in every home. The Christian lives always and everywhere in a Jesus filled world.  It tells how these two men when they received such great joy, they hastened to share it. The Christian message is never fully ours until we have shared it with someone else.

 

It tells how, when they reached Jerusalem, they found others who had already shared their experience. It has been said that true friendship begins only when people share a common memory and can say to each other, "Do you remember?"

 

It tells that Jesus appeared to Peter. That must remain one of the great untold stories of the world. It is a lovely thing that Jesus should make one of His first appearances to the man who had denied Him. It is the glory of Jesus that He can give the penitent sinner back his self-respect.

 

Life Application: How many of these possible experiences have you enjoyed being a part of? There is nothing like knowing you are forgiven and His arms embrace you with love. Now go out and tell about the unending love of Jesus.

 

Praise/Prayer: Dear Father, I am so thankful that the Bible shows us Your love is unending. I love this song that I have been singing since I was a boy. Thank You for having Alfred Ackey write this song: "I serve a risen savior, He's in the world today; I know that he is living whatever man may say, And just the time I need Him He's always near. He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.

Thank You, Father, for such unending love and mercy. Amen!