THE EFFECT OF A MANIFESTATION
F. C. Mutton
Luke 24: 28–36; Psalm 118: Just an impression, dear brethren, as to the intended effect of light and a manifestation of the Lord Jesus to us. We are, thank God, very often together for ministry and fellowship and it is always intended to have an effect; otherwise it would be merely academic. Everything is centred for us in the Person of our blessed Lord Jesus and in this passage in Luke we see the result of a presentation of Himself. Whether it is the Supper, a reading meeting, or a ministry meeting, some impression of Christ is to be received and to have an immediate effect.
We well know about these two disciples in Luke 24 and we enter sympathetically into their feelings. They were downcast, depressed, doubtful; it seemed to them that all their hopes had been dashed. Then the Lord Jesus drew near to them. Unperceived by them for who He was, He was prepared to go with them, and to be detained by them. Then He took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. Their eyes were opened, and they recognised Him, through the means He had used. What a blessed thing that is! Whatever kind of meeting it is, may we discern Him. “They recognised him”, and how good it is if after a meeting you can say, ‘It was the Lord, and He spoke to me’; not just that a certain brother spoke, but the Lord said something to me.
The result was immediate. He disappeared from them; they spoke about the experience they had had, and, rising up the same hour, they returned to
Jerusalem. The Lord had not said a word about returning to Jerusalem, but He well knew what the effect of the presentation of Himself would be. May it be like that with oneself, with us all, that the Lord has the joy of seeing a quick response to the way He has made Himself known. Reference was made during the past week-end to being quick learners, and these dear brethren, who had been diverted, were quick in their reception of light in the Person of our Lord. It was something very joyful; “rising up the same hour, they returned to Jerusalem”.
They got back to the divine centre and they found the eleven, and those with them. A profitable conversation was going on, to which they could now bring their own contribution, and anyone who has seen the Lord will have a contribution. Then, “as they were saying these things”, the most wonderful event of all occurred—“He himself stood in their midst, and says to them, Peace be unto you”. There was more to be done, further adjustment was needed, but one’s impression is this, dear brethren—If the Lord presents Himself, let Him not have to wait for an answer to that presentation. Let us rise up the same hour in answer to the manifestation of Himself.
In Psalm 118 there has been light. “Jehovah is God, and he has given us light”. Well, we can humbly say that there is light among the beloved brethren. We have been sovereignly recovered to the light. Now, what is our answer to be? If we have been given light, whether it be the general light of the recovery, or what currently shines in our assemblings, what is to be our answer? The response in the psalm is very affecting—“Bind the sacrifice with cords—up to the horns of the altar”. Any light, as answered to, will involve some sacrifice, some adjustment, some yielding, something relinquished. I do not mean necessarily something evil.
If there is something evil which I am clinging to it will most certainly have to be given up; but it may be that something more is called for in the way of deepened committal and Nazariteship. The word is, “Bind the sacrifice with cords”. It might be a young person saying, ‘I want to answer to the light and appeal of Romans 12, and to present my body a living sacrifice’. “Bind the sacrifice with cords—up to the horns of the altar”. It is definite and irrevocable. There is an answer in obedience and affection to the supremacy of the sacrifice of our blessed Lord Jesus.
I think it is a most attractive thought, that light comes, and light is received, and it is received sacrificially, and thus there is something for God. We think of what was supreme and unique that went up from the horns of the altar in the sufferings of Christ. Then there is your, or my, tiny sacrifice, yet it is associated before God with the precious character of the offering of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is something for His pleasure, and something that will surely result in our spiritual prosperity. May it be so with us, for His glory.