Seeing Jesus

Seeing Jesus

Luke 24:28-34, NLT

By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, 29but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. 30As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. 31Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! 32They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” 33And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, 34who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.”

Setting the Scene

The travelers were impressed with everything Jesus had been telling them. They wanted to talk with Jesus further, so they invited him to stay. They were also being hospitable because traveling after dark would have been dangerous. Jesus accepted their invitation and went home with them.

During the meal, Jesus blessed and broke the bread, a task usually done by the host. Immediately the men recognized Jesus. These two disciples had not been at the Last Supper, so that’s not what sparked recognition. God opened their eyes at the exact time he wanted them to recognize Jesus. Then Jesus disappeared, leaving the two disciples to wonder at what they had just experienced. Jesus had walked with them and had walked them through the Scriptures. They understood and felt the truth. Their doubts had been dispelled and their hope rekindled.

Although evening had come, the men couldn’t wait until morning to spread the news, so they hurried back to Jerusalem.

Getting Personal

What keeps us from seeing Jesus in our lives and in others?

If you knew Jesus was walking with you, how would your thoughts, words, and actions change?

How would that affect your relationships and your use of time and other resources?

After the two men realized the identity of the stranger who had walked with them, they reflected on the experience: “Didn’t our hearts burn within us?” That’s what happens when we encounter the Savior. Jesus promised never to abandon us (Hebrews 13:5), to be with us “always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, NLT). We can see him in hurting people (see Matthew 25:34-40) and in Communion as the bread is broken and the bread and wine are blessed. We can see him in church, in other believers—“Christ’s body” (Romans 12:5, NLT). And he lives in us through his Spirit.

Talking to God

Acknowledge that God is with you, as near as if he were walking beside you as he did with the men on the road to Emmaus. Ask the Lord to increase your awareness of his presence, so that you practice living with him and for him.