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Abide with Us

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Abide with Us

6 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

“Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent” (Luke 24:29). The way from Jerusalem to Emmaus had become unforgettable for the travelers to Emmaus. How wondrous had their way been! They had departed from Jerusalem downcast, and how wonderful the meeting had been while on their way. With wonder they had listened to the words which had flowed from the mouth of Israel’s greatest Prophet.

Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He had taught them. The instruction was orderly and explanatory, and the application caused their hearts to burn. They had drunk in His words as water as He spoke of His suffering and dying and of the necessity of them. How could Israel be delivered without satisfaction? God’s justice, after all, calls for complete fulfillment, and who can pay that costly ransom price, which is far beyond all sacrifice? Who can do so before God in time and in eternity?

When He spoke about Moses, then, of course, the manner in which the people of old had been led out was also mentioned. Moses means the books of Moses, does it not? In them a clear voice can be heard of the promises concerning Christ, but also the manner in which Israel was led out of the house of bondage is extensively described. There the lamb and the blood which had to be put upon the doorposts are cited. Only under the ministration of blood was there covering.

Just as the passover lamb had to be slain, so the Lamb of God had to be slain as well. Do behold the things which had taken place in Jerusalem. Those things which happened there had been presented in the old dispensation. Your hope, travelers to Emmaus, could only be founded in His sacrifice. Christ had to be nailed to the cursed tree. The debt, after all, demanded payment. Wrath had to be extinguished. Acquittal could only be obtained in a way of fulfillment of justice. How else could it take place?

With agreement they listened to His testimony. It became so wondrous in their hearts, and they began to burn. Light was shed on their life. The fire of God’s Spirit warmed the pining fire of their life of faith. Feelingly and experimentally they were included in the preaching of a yet unknown Christ about Christ. Light came upon the instructions of the prophets and the paths of their lives until that moment. How wonderful is that life, hearing everything from Him and accepting it unconditionally. However, with this all the matters were not solved, even though much had been explained.

Thus they approached Emmaus. Time had flown, and a wondrous bond bound them to Him who gave such precious instruction. More than ever they felt the necessity of His official instruction. As a clear mark of Divine instruction, this teaching binds one to the instruction and to those who instruct. As they approach Emmaus, they do not think that now they know it, and the rest they will learn later sometime. With Divine instruction, one does not end outside of the ministry, nor outside of the official instruction. Such a fruit would reveal immediately that one has never been instructed of God. It is nothing else but flesh which also ends in the flesh. John therefore also warns, saying, “Try the spirits whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1).

The testimony of the travelers to Emmaus is a clear proof of the Divine instruction which they had received. Hear their petition, “Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” They can no longer miss Him and His instruction. Behold, that is how a missing people ask for the instruction from the sanctuary. They themselves are blind in the ways of God and cannot solve the questions. Still, life goes out unto Him from whom they receive instruction. What must they do without that instruction?

It points us to the true outgoings of faith. Would that we learned to think and act scripturally. All human reasoning is a contrast to heavenly work. “Abide with us,” they exclaim. “Do not let us part now. Do declare more of Him to whom our heart goes out, whose Person and work we cannot miss.”

The reason why it is this way they have said: “It is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” The sun in nature bowed toward the horizon. Evening red colored heaven. The end was near. However, that is not only the way in nature. That is also the way it is in the heart. Everything tends toward the end. They have lost everything, and they cannot continue without Him. Suffering and dying have been explained to them. They have also accepted it believingly.

But how is it now further? Shall it end in the pitch dark night? Hear the cry of their heart: “It is toward evening!” and “the day is far spent!” It is not only the day in nature, for this all intends to teach us more. The day of which they were speaking is the third day after the crucifixion of Christ. According to His word He would rise this day from the dead. This day is the day of their hope.

Much had been spoken of Him. The women had spoken about His resurrection, but for these men the day without fulfillment was at an end. Everything was explained, but the application was missing. It asked for solutions. Shall their life have to end unsolved?

How many of God’s children can understand this petition? They themselves are walking about on the earth with an unsolved life. They experience that the Lord alone can solve it. It is as if we hear Jacob in this, “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.”

And the answer? “And He went in to tarry with them.” It is a lasting promise. “Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold” (Psalm 68:13).

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van zaterdag 1 april 1995

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's

Abide with Us

Bekijk de hele uitgave van zaterdag 1 april 1995

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's