Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

May 25– Evening

by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“They rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem … and they told what happened to them along the way, and how they knew him when he broke the bread.” 

—Luke 24:33,35

When the two disciples had reached Emmaus and were relaxing at the evening meal, the mysterious stranger, whom they had met as they were traveling and who had enchanted them with his conversation, took bread and broke it, made himself known to them, and then vanished out of their sight.

They had invited him to stay with them because it was very late in the day. But they now knew the stranger’s identity. So, even though it was much later, their love became a lamp to their feet and they forgot about the darkness of night. They were no longer weary but sprouted wings to make the journey back to Jerusalem. They had to tell others the good news of the risen Lord. They reached the Christians in Jerusalem and were received by a burst of joyful news before they could tell their own tale. These early Christians were on fire to speak of Christ’s resurrection, and to proclaim what they knew of the Lord. Their collective experiences became their common property.

This evening let their example impress us deeply. We, too, must bear our witness concerning Jesus. John’s account of the empty tomb needed to be supplemented by Peter’s. And Mary could speak of something yet different. When our experiences of the Lord are combined, we have a full testimony, so nothing should be spared. Each of us has peculiar gifts and special manifestations, but God has one object in view: the perfecting of the whole body of Christ.

We must, therefore, bring our spiritual possessions and lay them at the apostle’s feet and distribute to others what God has given to us. Keep back no part of the precious truth, but speak what you know, and testify to what you have seen. Don’t let the darkness of work or the unbelief of friends keep you from it. Rise up! Walk quickly to Jerusalem and tell what great things God has shown to your soul. [M&E]