"JESUS HIMSELF DRAWING NIGH"
F.C.Mutton
What is affecting and impressing one at the moment is this section as to these two disciples who were perplexed, discouraged and disheartened. It says, "Jesus himself drawing nigh, went with them". And so it is, beloved, that in our tests arid pressures, and especially at times of sorrow such as this, we have the sense of Jesus Himself drawing nigh and being with us. It does not just say that Jesus drew nigh, but "Jesus himself". Just let us reflect upon that, Jesus Himself. He is spoken of in this gospel as the Son of God, and this was the day of His resurrection. I suppose there are three outstanding days in the history of time; when Jesus was born, and when He died and when He rose from among the dead. This was on one of those great days. A Man had been into death; He says Himself, "and I became dead" (Rev 1: 18), and now on this day He was out of death, and death's power had been broken. Yet these two persons were not yet in the gain of it. How affecting it is that "Jesus himself drawing nigh, went with them". He entered into that whole situation; He listened patiently as they poured out their troubles and perplexities, and then brought in, as this chapter unfolds, the most glorious light as to Himself. Verse 27 says, "And having begun from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself". Later they say, "Was not our heart burning in us as he spoke to us on the way?" (v.32). Then they speak of how He was made known to them in the breaking of bread.
Beloved, the Lord would make Himself known to us at this time in a way in which perhaps we have never known Him before. It is as if He would take advantage of the sorrows and pressures which may bow us down in grief. Though many may sympathize and pray, and many do, and are praying, none can draw near and go with us like Jesus. I love that expression; not only did He draw near, but "went with them"; went through the whole experience with them, and lifted them out of it in a fresh manifestation of Himself. May that be the experience of every one of us. I am sure such a time as this brings home to us he passing nature of everything here, everything that is earth-bound, and death bound. What have we beyond? As has been said, we have nothing if we do not know a risen and glorified Christ, but as knowing Him we have everything. So these two are lifted out of depression, and doubt and discouragement; their hearts are set on fire, and it says "rising up the same hour, they returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven, and those with them, gathered together", (v 33). They found the comfort now not only of Jesus but of the Christian circle where Christ is everything and in all. The Lord would use this word with one's self or any one of us, so to manifest Himself to us that we retrace our steps, perhaps some wrong steps, some careless steps. He would present Himself to us so that we rise up this same hour and return to where He would have us in the circle of His own, of which He is the centre. May this impression and this experience be ours, beloved – "Jesus himself drawing nigh, went with them". May He go with our beloved sorrowing brethren, not only today but, if we are left here, in what may lie ahead – an unknown experience, a fresh path, but; "Jesus himself drawing nigh, went with them", Nothing could be so blessed, so all-sufficient. May we experience it, for His Name's sake.
ROTHERHAM
18 March 1985
At a burial