We’ve reached the end of our dusty 7-mile road, but not the end of our story, for our eyes have not yet been opened. We have one last lesson to learn, the biggest one yet. We can’t do it alone. However, God, by filling in the gap , teaches us the difference between believing and knowing. With this knowledge, God is ready to reveal Christ to us.
Join me as we read Luke 24:28-35 AMP;
28 Then they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as if He were going farther. 29 But they urged Him [not to go on], saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening, and the day has just about ended.” So He went inside to stay with them. 30 And it happened that as He reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were [suddenly] opened [by God] and they [clearly] recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking with us on the road and opening the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up that very hour and went back to Jerusalem, and found the eleven [apostles] gathered together and those who were with them, 34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon [Peter]!” 35 They began describing in detail what had happened on the road, and how Jesus was recognized by them when He broke the bread.
“Then their eyes were opened.”
Hindsight really is 20/20. God, opening my eyes, has allowed me to see the people who have helped me have a deeper relationship with Christ. But in this story, by them not recognizing Him, Jesus is able to show them how He has always been there. Thus, fulfilling the scriptures and giving us a better understanding today.
Can you imagine if they had recognized Him immediately? They would have never allowed him to teach what had to be taught. Raised in their religion, they knew all the scriptures, yet they missed the obvious. Sometimes it takes divine revelation to understand. We can’t do it alone. They thought they knew Jesus. But God wasn’t finished and the fullness of Christ had not yet been revealed. This is the gap that only God can fill, where faith grows and we leap from belief to knowledge.
Imagine you are with these disciples. You have reached your destination but this guy has fascinated you with his knowledge of the scriptures. Hoping the conversation will continue, you invite Him in. While preparing the meal, you realize just how tired you. Reclining back at the table, you take a deep breath. So does your guest. He reaches for the bread, breaking it in 1/2 and blesses it. Pinching off a generous amount with his fingers, He offers it first to you. At that moment, as you slowly reach out your hand to receive it, you see the bread and then look up into eyes of the Giver. There. Right there, in that moment, with your eyes locked, you recognize Him. This is Jesus! Opening your eyes, God reveals the knowledge of who He is. Now you know Him! And just like that, He’s gone.
“Once I was blind, but now I see.”
With astonished excitement, they jump to their feet and run back out to that old familiar road. Restoring their hope, they head back to Jerusalem with lifted spirits. Only God can do that!
The disciples knew Jesus before and after his death. God opened their eyes and they shared their stories so we too can know Him. The best place to meet Jesus is in the Word of God. If you don’t know Jesus or you just want to have a deeper relationship with God, invite Him in. Trust God to open your eyes to the knowledge of Christ.
1 Peter 1:8 says; “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.” We have been created to be in relationship with God and with others. Jesus shows us the way and with God’s help, we not only believe in Him, we can know Him! In that revelation of who Christ is, we can rejoice with inexpressible joy! Praise be to God!
Let us pray: O Great God, thank you that You are the One who opens our eyes. Forgive us when we do not recognizing You. Allow us to trust You and know You fully, so that our joy may be complete. In Jesus’ name, Amen. -M
