Evening, November 8
Go To Morning Reading
“The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the
passover with my disciples?”
Mark 14:14
Jerusalem at the time of the passover was one great inn; each householder
had invited his own friends, but no one had invited the Saviour, and
he had no dwelling of his own. It was by his own supernatural power
that he found himself an upper room in which to keep the feast. It
is so even to this day—Jesus is not received among the sons of men save only where by his
supernatural power and grace he makes the heart anew. All doors are
open enough to the prince of darkness, but Jesus must clear a way
for himself or lodge in the streets. It was through the mysterious
power exerted by our Lord that the householder raised no question,
but at once cheerfully and joyfully opened his guestchamber. Who he
was, and what he was, we do not know, but he readily accepted the
honour which the Redeemer proposed to confer upon him. In like manner
it is still discovered who are the Lord’s chosen, and who are not; for when the gospel comes to some, they
fight against it, and will not have it, but where men receive it,
welcoming it, this is a sure indication that there is a secret work
going on in the soul, and that God has chosen them unto eternal life.
Are you willing, dear reader, to receive Christ? then there is no
difficulty in the way; Christ will be your guest; his own power is
working with you, making you willing. What an honour to entertain
the Son of God! The heaven of heavens cannot contain him, and yet
he condescends to find a house within our hearts! We are not worthy
that he should come under our roof, but what an unutterable privilege
when he condescends to enter! for then he makes a feast, and causes
us to feast with him upon royal dainties, we sit at a banquet where
the viands are immortal, and give immortality to those who feed thereon.
Blessed among the sons of Adam is he who entertains the angels’ Lord.