Words of Hope Daily Devotional
Known to Them
Read: Luke 24:25-35
He was known to them in the breaking of the bread. (v. 35)
When my late father-in-law led us in prayer, he would often add this thought: “Forgive us our sins and our shortcomings.” It was a reminder that we needed patience and forbearance—not just with each other’s sins, but with some of our more annoying personality qualities. It was his “signature” phrase, and I miss hearing him say it.
No doubt Jesus had a memorable way of praying with his friends. As the travelers to Emmaus reached their destination, Jesus stayed to share their evening meal. Suddenly, they realized their “new” friend’s identity: “He was known to them in the breaking of the bread” (v. 35). What opened their eyes? Was it the blessing or the way he broke the bread? Was it the wounds in his hands—left by the nails that hung him on the cross? Or did God’s Spirit lift a veil from their eyes so they could know him? Whatever it was, the two realized they had walked with and even had been taught by the risen Jesus! Giving no thought to the dangers of traveling by night, they hurried back to Jerusalem—witnesses of the resurrected Savior.
In his commentary on Luke, Dale Ralph Davies writes, “Jesus revealed Himself to them in a very mundane circumstance, a daily meal . . . He can still meet with his people in the most ordinary times, and sometimes He prefers a kitchen table.” Whatever your circumstances today, seek some time to meet with Jesus.
As you pray, focus on this time as your opportunity to meet with Jesus.
About the Author
Laura Sweet
Laura N. Sweet is a wife, mother, grandmother, and former Christian school teacher from Midland, Michigan. She writes devotional material for both adults and children, and her work has appeared in more than a dozen publications.
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