Notes of a Bible Reading
Ottawa General Meetings
April, 1987
“Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
QUESTION: “How can you know with any certainty that you are gathered to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that other Christians even more godly than you are not?”
I would like to submit this question, and I am sure that there are many who would like to have a clear answer to it from the Scriptures.
The third verse says, “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit.” It is not the unity of believers, it is the unity of the Spirit. The Spirit of God never acts contrary to the Word of God, so we have to go by the Word of God. If every believer was submissive to the leading of the Spirit through the Word, would there be all these various groups? On God’s part, He is willing to make His mind known. It tells us in John 7: 17, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” And, in Philippians 3:1515Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. (Philippians 3:15), “If in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”
Sometimes in approaching this question, the thought comes, “Since godly men differ, how can I, who am not nearly as godly as some of these others, say that I know the mind of the Lord?” But we should approach it from the other side, “Is God willing to make His mind known?” He has made it known in His Word. But, it is only when we are in communion with Him, that He will make it known to us. When we have a definite Scripture, we can be sure that we have His mind for our pathway, and we can say that we know it is His will. With all the confusion that there is in Christendom, it behooves us to be very humble, and not set ourselves up. But we must always remember that God is willing to make His mind known.
If we say, “Since there are differences between godly men, who am I to say that I can know the Lord’s mind and will?” is it not really a reflection on God Himself? So if we are just willing to know, God is willing on His part. But this will make us very humble; for, if we have discerned His mind through His Word, who are we?—it is only God in His wondrous grace. Does this not also apply to salvation? Am I saved because I am better than some other person? I can only say that it is His wondrous grace that picked me up as a poor sinner—not because I was any better, it was sovereign grace! If He has made known His will, is it some boast on my part that I am more spiritual? All I can do is thank Him that He has made known His will to us. So, I believe that we need a quiet humility to discern His mind and will through His Word. We all have to be very humble; but, there is His Word—there is God’s willingness. Shouldn’t we just leave it at that?
It is not here endeavoring to keep the unity of the believers, but the unity of the Spirit. If every believer was willing to be led by the Spirit of God through the Word of God, there wouldn’t be all this confusion; it is really the work of man, because, “there is one body.” That is a positive truth that we know. Every believer in the Lord Jesus is united by the Spirit to Christ the Head in glory. So, “there is one body and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.” Do we think that, when the Lord Jesus gives the shout, there will be a lot of confusion because Christians are called by different names, and are gathered in different ways here? No. We know that when the Lord Jesus gives that shout, every believer in Him will be caught up. That is the hope of our calling. Now, the question is, can we give expression to that down here? I believe that when there is a willing heart, God is willing to make it known to us through His Word, and by His Spirit. Can we go beyond that?
No, I believe, and am firm on this point, that Scripture makes it very plain that God only has one way of doing everything. No more than there could be two ways of being saved—and everyone readily answers, “no, there is only one way;” I believe that God always reduces everything to that one—He has one perfect way for every one of us, and if we are all willing to walk in subjection to the Word of God and seek to exalt the Name and the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, I believe that we will all walk in the one original unity. I don’t like to go beyond saying that I believe there can only be one gathering center, and that is Christ. And, by God’s grace, I feel myself in the presence of the Lord when I enter into an assembly meeting. Although they say that there are 650 groups of Christians, and they are all on their way to glory, I believe to seek to know the Lord’s mind in any other way than subjection to the Word of God is evil. I believe that it is only through the conscience and the heart that God makes this wonderful truth known to us—that Christ is one gathering center, just as it was right at the beginning.
I agree, and think it is so nice that this has been brought out. The question is often asked; and, the divisions that have come in among God’s people, because we are one, have exercised us. The Lord does test us and make us re-examine ourselves. But, notice the phrase, “the unity of the Spirit.” It is a capital “S.” I believe that is the key. The Spirit gathers to Christ. But, if you want the tests, they are many and varied. You will find them if you are willing to listen to the Spirit, according to the Word of God. The one nice test that I love, and have found always to be fair: The Spirit always exalts Christ and makes much of Him, and nothing of man. So, in John 15: 26: “ ... the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.” Then in chapter 16, verse 14: “He shall glorify me.” Then, chapter 14, verse 26: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” The Spirit of God will bring Christ to our hearts always. And He will exalt Christ as a result of our being together, for whatever purpose.
I have noticed that when some have left, discouraged, misadvised, or otherwise, and I have visited them—before they left, we could feed on Christ together; there was liberty; but now, there is a difference; the subject becomes what they are doing, not so much of Christ and who He is, but what they are doing. The change is so apparent. If others are gathered on any other ground but Christ, the Word of God, and the Spirit who has the liberty to bring Christ to our hearts in everything, you will find man exalted, works first, and worship second. We are criticized sometimes for making too much of worship, but let us not be ashamed of such a criticism.
Brother, several years ago you brought a very good thought before us in one of the conferences, in connection with the first Passover, where the Lord gathered the disciples together. It was in connection with the fact that there were many homes in Jerusalem at that time that were celebrating the Passover. Yes, thinking of Jerusalem in that day: That was the last Passover, and there were many in Jerusalem to keep that Passover. But, when the Lord gave the directions for them to go and prepare, they questioned Him, saying, “Where wilt thou that we prepare?” This is a question that every believer who is exercised needs to direct to the Lord, “Where wilt Thou?” Then, the two disciples on this occasion explicitly listened to Him. They introduced none of their own thoughts into it. And they went into the city, into that certain house, following the guidance that the Lord had given, and they found it exactly as He had said to them. Then the Lord presented Himself there. Now the place was the place of His appointment.
On this we might read in the last chapter of Matthew; there was a place of the Lord’s appointment there also. This was a little later, it is in resurrection; but it fits the subject. Matthew 28:1616Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. (Matthew 28:16): “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.” Here again, we find that the Lord chose that place, just as He had marked it out when the disciples asked Him, “Where wilt Thou?” You and I will find exactly the same thing. If we, in subjection—willing to do His will—follow His direction, He will not misguide us. He will guide us to where He is. It was so here in resurrection. And, this was a mountain; brethren, when we get into the assembly where the Lord is, we are on a pinnacle of the heavenly position. What happened on this occasion? Verse 17: “And when they saw him, they worshipped him...” Here is the picture—a people who follow the direction of the Lord (it is a little remnant, the eleven); they go to this place, the place the Lord had marked out, and they find the Lord there. “And they worshipped Him.” But, notice again, and it is sad: “... some doubted.” We feel that our brethren who ask these questions, and I believe they are brethren, they doubt the guidance of the Scriptures, and they don’t find the place. It is a very sad thing.
Some while ago, we were visiting a Christian couple, and they told us that they were looking for “a good church.” We asked them, “how do you decide whether a church is good or not?” They didn’t have a real answer for that; so, we were able to point out the things that have been mentioned here today. Then, just lately, we visited with a young couple who were believers, only saved a short time; they were looking for a place which suited their own definite ideas. I am afraid that is the problem in many cases where they ask this question, because they have their own idea in mind, and they may never even have thought to ask the question, “Where wilt Thou?”
When the Lord said to Peter and John “Go and prepare us the Passover,” we might picture Peter saying, “Come on, John, I know just where we can do this.” He didn’t do it that time. They said, “Where wilt thou?” Then, they met the man bearing the pitcher of water; there was very definite guidance. And if anyone today is willing to seek God’s mind, they, too, are going to find the place. “They went and found as He had said unto them.” They could have reasoned, “What if we don’t meet that man; or, what if the large upper room is already occupied?” No, they went and they found as He had said unto them. God has given directions; if we would only stop and ask, “Where wilt thou?” we would get the answer.
We do not have here in Ephesians, to keep the unity of the body. This is an important point, because, if we were admonished to keep the unity of the body, we would have to fellowship with every believer, no matter what his association, what his life morally is, or what his doctrine. But we are admonished to keep the unity of the Spirit—that which the Spirit is forming to give true expression to the truth of the one body. So we have to test the claims of people, whether their fellowship is indeed that which expresses what the Spirit is forming in connection with the truth of the body. There are bodies of believers who profess to come together on the basis of nationality, but that is not Scriptural; it is not in keeping with the truth of Christianity, “where there is neither Greek nor Jew ... ” People also form communions or fellowships based on doctrine—baptism, church government, etc. All of these things are not what really brings us together as Christians. When we are together as Christians, gathered by the Spirit around the Person of the Lord Jesus, doctrine is of utmost importance. But, what brings us together is Christ. In the beginning they “continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” The apostle’s doctrine makes the fellowship; breaking of bread expresses it, and prayer maintains it.
Today we have not only to do with the various denominations, which are unscriptural, but we also have to do with the divided state of what the Lord raised up some 150 years ago. Those early brethren all believed that there could be only one expression of the truth of the one body. And, if saints today are gathered by the Spirit of God around the Person of the Lord Jesus, they are not gathered in division; and it is not pride, it is faith. There is a difference. And if we are proud of it, the Lord has a way of humbling us. That is why He has allowed some of the things which have occurred among us, even recently—because of positional pride. It is His grace that saves, and it is His grace that gathers. But it takes faith to believe that by the Spirit of God I am gathered to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not man’s deciding that we are coming together; the Spirit of God draws us to that only center of worth, the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
QUESTION: “What is meant by corporate testimony; or, the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ only in one fellowship?”
This is another question I would like to submit. It often is asked, “Many Christians are gathered together; do you mean to tell me that they do not have the presence of the Lord?”
They do have the presence of the Lord. The Lord is with them. But there is a difference in His being with them, and of having Him in the midst. And, we need to beware of many of the new translations of Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20), which read: “Where two or three come together in my name, I will be with them.” It is true, but it is not the truth of the Word of God. Satan is very clever; he takes what is true and gives it out, but does not tell the truth. (That is what he did with Eve: he told her what was true, but he didn’t give her the truth; and they fell.) So, He is with them; He is indwelling every believer, and He will not leave them. But that is not the same as the Lord in the midst, where the Spirit has liberty to function corporately on clean ground. He is holy, and we must be holy; that is another condition. One is that Christ is all; the other is that we are united, we are in a unity of the body; and so all of the expression of this corporate testimony must be holy. There is a corporate testimony, but it does not go just to the doctrine; it goes to the walk, the holiness that is maintained because He is holy. It is true, He is with the others; we shouldn’t say He is not. He is there, and He can take the Word of God and bring it to the heart of anyone who belongs to Him. But is it the same as the whole truth, as expressed where He is in the midst corporately? It is not the same.
When God was going to feed Elijah, He told him to go to a certain brook; He said, “There will I feed you.” Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20) promises the presence of the Lord to those who are gathered to His Name; the Lord said, “There am I in the midst of them.” He is not in the midst in that way unless we are gathered unto His Name. But, I wonder in connection with the question, about the activity of the Spirit of God: We know that the Spirit does lead other believers, but isn’t there a special way in which He acts among those who are gathered unto His Name?
I think we need to go back to the very beginning of things—to the day of Pentecost. On that day the Spirit of God came down, and He united about one hundred and twenty by one Spirit into one body. They were all gathered there, gathered to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. But, suppose now, that Peter has a quarrel with John, and they decide that they are going to set up separately. Then there will be a company gathered with those who followed in fellowship with John, and those who followed Peter. Could we say that the Spirit of God would equally lead to one place or the other, and that it would make no difference? Wouldn’t that be a denial of what we are reading in this very Scripture, that, “there is one body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.” I believe that we have to be very humble, but I also believe we have to go back to this point—the Spirit of God is gathering to Christ. Is the Spirit of God then gathering in division? Is He saying, “This group of Christians should gather in this company, and this group of Christians in another company?” That would be denying the fact of what the Spirit of God is actually doing here, in gathering out a bride for Christ, in raising up a testimony to the truth of the one body, and exhorting us to keep the unity of the Spirit.
I believe that we are constantly put to the test in this matter. Because, as we are gathered, as we believe, according to the Word of God, to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, when difficulties arise and divisions take place, even among us, we are freshly put to the test: could the Spirit of God be leading some in one direction, and some in another? Again, we have to come back to that simple truth, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” We must always recognize that the Spirit of God is not gathering to two centers. I believe, just as in the Old Testament—the Lord chose a place where He would put His Name there, and there was His presence, and there was His authority. So, it is also true today; it is not a particular spot on the earth like Jerusalem was, but it is a Person, and gathered on the ground of the one body. His presence is His approval of the manner in which we gather. Going back to the example of two companies in Jerusalem, one associated with John, and the other with Peter. Could we say that the Spirit of God would lead some to go to one, and some to the other? And, that the Lord would be equally approving of both? He Himself would be, in that way, the author of confusion. So, we must be very simple about these things, but we must also be very humble.
We are constantly being put to the test. I know that there are brethren right here, and there may be difficulties arising in the assembly where you live, or perhaps have arisen. You are put to the test as to whether the Spirit of God is gathering with the company that has separated, or the company that still remains. It is very important. The building doesn’t mean anything. Many years ago, in the city of Montreal, the brethren met in a certain building. Those who were gathered believed that they were gathered by the Spirit to Christ. But, if you went out to the city of Winnipeg, there was a company meeting in a certain building there. They were put to the test. The brother who owned the hall separated from those who were meeting according to the Word of God. The building didn’t mean anything; in one place they might continue to go to the same building, but in the other, they no longer went to the same building. It is not the building, or an earthly fabrication; it is the Person to whom we are gathered. That Person is the Lord Jesus Christ; the Spirit of God is gathering to Him. So, we are put to the test—is it according to the Word of God? When I meet a person who says, “I believe the Spirit of God is gathering to many different centers,” I have to reply, “You are making the Spirit of God the author of confusion.” When he says, “Well, I have difficulty discovering lust where the Lord would have me be.” Then, I say, “We all have to go through that exercise and search the Scriptures; then, seek to act according to the principles of His Word.” But, let us not deny the fact that the Spirit is gathering to Christ, and that Christ is the center. His presence is what makes the Place, and gives authority for action in that Place. And, the action must also be according to His Word.
Don’t be governed by blessing that you see elsewhere. That is such an important point. Just because there are Christians who are not gathered to the Name of the Lord, it does not mean that the Lord does not bless them according to the measure of faithfulness that is found there. They are all dear to Him. We should be thankful for any measure of faithfulness we see anywhere among God’s people. We rejoice when we see that there is blessing. But, let us not be governed by that.
The story of the return of the Jewish remnant from captivity and the book of Esther are helpful on this point. How much trouble that remnant that went back to Jerusalem, the divine center, had to experience. They certainly had the Lord’s mind in going there, but they had no end of trouble. The enemy was attacking them right and left. Nevertheless, they were in the divine center where God wanted them to be. Then, look at Esther and Mordecai, who did not return: How wonderfully the Lord delivered them and all the people of God. It even had an effect on the remnant that had returned to Jerusalem, for the decree that had gone out to destroy all the Jews would have destroyed them also. But, who would hesitate to say that Ezra, Nehemiah, and all the people who went back, had the Lord’s mind? They were in the place where God wanted them to be. So we must not be governed by blessing.
We also have the example of the book of Ruth. There might come a condition in any local assembly at any time, because of unfaithfulness or disobedience, that might bring in a famine. It is the place of bread and blessing. But, because of our unfaithfulness, we might experience a famine, and be tempted to leave that place and go, “down to Moab.” What a loss it was for that family! God, in grace, came in and brought Naomi and Ruth back, and even put Ruth in the line of our Savior. But, we have to learn from these examples; we must not be governed strictly by blessing, or by the lack of it. So, if there is such a condition in an assembly, let us be exercised and get before the Lord, that He would bring in a change. Christianity is not characterized by what you find, but by what it brings. May these examples be an encouragement to any who may be in a place where there is, perhaps, less blessing outwardly than what you see elsewhere. Don’t be tempted to leave the place.
“The truth as it is in Jesus,” is a statement in verse 21 of our chapter. The truth as it is in Jesus. The truth, basically, is simple; God has not made it complex; men have done that. Unity is not union, and union is not unity. “There is one body.” That is an absolute fact that no one can change. My behavior doesn’t change it, and yours does not either. That body is composed of every believer on the face of the earth. We are exhorted here to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, and we are to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. That is oneness; it is not division. In 1 Corinthians 1:1313Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Corinthians 1:13), we get this question: “Is Christ divided?” That, to me, is a most horrible thought. Christ is not divided! There is one body. You and I are exhorted to be in a testimony that shows that. There cannot be two testimonies to this one fact.
There was only that one house in Jerusalem on the night of the last Passover where the Lord was present. The Lord was there. The Passover was undoubtedly kept in many homes in that city, but the Lord was only in one. It was there, on that occasion, that He instituted the memorial that we celebrate, to be a witness to the fact that there is one body. It comes down to this simple fact: There cannot be two Lord’s tables. Christ is not divided. So, let us follow the directions; they are very simple. We need not go into all the details of where other people go, and what they do—just get our own directions from the Spirit in the Word, and follow them, and we will find Christ; we will be on the “mountain top” to worship Him, and He will be there to minister to our souls.
I believe there is something very important to consider in connection with this question, and that is the lordship of Christ. When they said, “Where wilt thou?” they were really owning that He was Lord in their life; and they were willing to be subject to that. I believe that is not only so in our finding the place, but also in remaining in that place. We are under His lordship, so we own His authority; and we do that in the light of what is universal. Just because we are in different areas, it does not change the fact that each of us, to be at the Lord’s table, must own the lordship of Christ in finding that place, and in being in subjection to Him and to His Word. Also, when an action as to discipline or reception is taken, it has to be that we own again the lordship of Christ to remain in the place of His choosing. If we are going to claim Matthew 18: 20, we also have to claim the rest of the area where His authority comes in, in order to remain (through sovereign grace) in the place. But it is really owning the lordship of Christ.
In 2 Timothy 2: 19 (New Translation), “And, let every one who names the name of the Lord, depart from iniquity.” That does bring in the thought of lordship, and subjection to Him.
Also, there is no question, from the Old Testament, that God has always had a care over all of His people. Both Elijah and Elisha labored among the ten tribes of Israel, who were not on the divine ground. God did have a real care for them, and sought to recall their hearts to Himself. But the principle of the divine center runs so strong through the Old Testament that we can’t miss it.
In Psalm 133, where it says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity,” it is very important to notice that it is a Psalm of degrees. These Psalms come one after another. So, Psalm 132 must precede Psalm 133; because, there we see that David had a real regard for that which symbolized the Lord’s presence—the ark. Not only that, but he had a real exercise about the order of things, the priesthood, etc.—bringing glory to God. I believe that this should be characteristic of those gathered to the Name of the Lord Jesus: First of all, acknowledgment of His presence in the midst of those gathered; then, a genuine regard for divine order. That pattern of things runs through the entire Word of God.
In connection with what was said previously, I believe it is very important that we distinguish between the Lord’s presence collectively and His presence individually. In the passage referred to in Matthew 28, two things are brought before us: First, the mountain that Jesus had appointed; there the eleven disciples gathered, and the Lord was in their midst—they saw Him, and they worshipped Him. But in the end of the chapter, when they disbursed from that happy gathering, the Lord said these words to them (verse 20), “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the age.” That is blessedly true today. So, when a believer who is not gathered according to the Word of God says that he enjoyed the Lord’s presence, we know it is true—you can enjoy the Lord’s presence individually. But the Spirit of God is gathering collectively to the Person of Christ. So we have divine direction, just as they had to go to that mountain; we have it as to the way of gathering, and we have His authority we gather according to His Word. So, it is important to distinguish between the Lord’s presence individually, and His presence collectively. All true Christians can all enjoy His presence individually; but the Spirit of God is gathering to a Person; and, collectively, He is in the midst when we are gathered according to His word.
I believe that this is brought out in connection with Israel, in 2 Chronicles 25, verses 5-7: “Moreover Amaziah (king over the two tribes) gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield. He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel (the ten tribes) for an hundred talents of silver. But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the Lord is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim.” I just call attention to that because it is true what our brother just mentioned, God raised up mighty men, like Elijah and Elisha, to be prophets in the ten tribes. But, when Judah, who were in the place where the Lord had chosen to place His Name, were going to act as if there was no difference, then the prophet came and said, “the Lord is not with Israel.” That is, He was not with them collectively.
I am glad our brother made the comment that we ought to rejoice at all blessing there is, whether saints are gathered according to His Word or not. We are told about those that prophesied in the camp: Joshua wanted to stop them, but Moses said, “Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets” (Numbers 11: 29). Let us rejoice that the gospel is going forth. If the only gospel that went forth in this world was from those gathered unto the Lord’s Name, there would be a very small effort. But, God is very gracious and loving, and He is reaching out.
Also, I think we find that when Paul went up to Jerusalem, and James wanted him to compromise his position, he said unto him (Acts 21: 20), “Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law.” He was really doing just that; He was saying, “We must be right; because, look at all the blessing there is when we put people under law.” Poor Paul was almost taken in by that argument. We have to be careful brethren; let’s be faithful to the truth. That is why Paul, later on, called himself, “the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles.” Also, he said, “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” May the Lord give us large hearts to love all the saints, and to rejoice in every effort to spread the gospel. But, may He give us grace, too, to walk in the truth; because, the Lord values obedience more than anything. It is His presence and His company that is everything. So, there is such a thing as the enjoyment of the Lord’s presence individually, which every Christian is entitled fully to enjoy, as he seeks to walk according to the light he has. But those who seek to follow the directions of the Word of God can count on the Lord’s faithfulness—that if they gather according to His Word, they have His promise, “There am I in the midst of them.”
In Luke, chapter 24, there were the two who turned and went down to Emmaus. Did the Lord forget them? Did He leave them alone? No, He didn’t. It says, “Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.” But, from that point on—as He went with them, and they constrained Him to come in, and they had a meal together—His whole purpose was to exercise them, to stir up their conscience. It says in verse 31, “And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.” I believe His desire for them was that they might enjoy the corporate testimony. He loves each individual, and He is with each one of His own individually. But, it is interesting in that chapter that their hearts burned within them—He had exercised them, stirred up their consciences and their hearts—and they rose up that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. Then, in verse 36, “And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them.” That is corporate testimony. He was with them when they were going down, away from Jerusalem—that is the individual. God will never forget, despise, turn away from, or forsake His own. But, it is lovely to see that, when they got back to Jerusalem, they found the eleven and those that were with them; there was a corporate testimony. The Lord’s desire was that they might be exercised about that corporate testimony.
They did not turn around while on the way to Emmaus, when the Scriptures were opened unto them, and their hearts burned within them; but when their eyes were opened to see the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, they said to themselves, “We are in the wrong place.” So they walked back that night, six and one quarter miles in the dark, up and down those mountains, to get back to the city. And the Lord appeared there when they arrived. But, it is interesting to notice that, only when they were back there, the third thing is opened— “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (verse 45). Their understanding was not opened when they were walking away; it was not opened when they were sitting with the Lord in their home; their understanding was opened when their eyes had been opened to see the Lord, when they had been obedient, and when they had returned and there understood. We will never understand until we are willing to obey, submit and to bow to the authority of the Lord.
It is good, too, for us to realize that the Lord’s table is older than redemption. The Lord’s supper was instituted the night before He went to the cross. How precious to the heart of God, and to the Lord Jesus, is the remembrance that you and I are privileged to carry every Lord’s day till He come. That was established according to His Word. It says, “Where two or three are gathered to my name.” It doesn’t say, “to Me.” It is the authority of the Lord to which we are gathered. And, then the Lord gives the assurance of His presence.