I've Just Seen...Part 2

On the way to work this morning, I listened to a man talk about Jesus and two of “them” (I assume it means his followers) “going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.”

For some reason, his resurrected body’s appearance was different enough that they did not recognize their friend. Even as he stood right beside them, their faces were downcast—their hope for a future with Messiah was gone.(Do we also fail to recognize his presence at times?)

At that point, they explained to him what had happened the previous few days, including that “some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb…but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” Apparently, the men believed only that the tomb was empty.

Jesus reprimanded them for their lack of knowledge and belief and then, “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself."

As it was almost evening when they got to the village, they invited him to stay with them. So, joining them for dinner, he opened their eyes and then, they recognized him. He disappeared.

Why did he do that, and why is that scene included in scripture? The teacher this morning indicated that Jesus set the pattern for us in that scene. As he walked them through the scriptures from Moses to the Prophets (all the bible that was available to them), he gave them light—a light that would be available long after he was physically gone from them. They could always go to the scriptures and see him, the Messiah, in every chapter. They just needed the light to know that. (Your word is a lamp …and a light… Psalm 119:105) The light would be an constant source of Jesus himself.

Then, after he had given them “light”, he gave them “sight”—“He opened their eyes and they recognized him.” Noticed that real “sight” followed the real “light.”

That sounds a lot like the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus in Acts 9. “Suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.” He fell to the earth and heard a voice who identified himself as Jesus. He was blind for three days; and when an obedient disciple laid hands on him, his sight was not only restored but he was able to see the truth of Jesus that he had been persecuting. Again, real “sight” followed the real “light.”

Those examples were given for you and me. We are blessed to have the powerful Word of God available to us at all times if we choose to learn about the real light within it. When we see the real light of Jesus’ presence in the scriptures as he showed the Emmaus disciples, we will then be given the real “sight” of God in our lives.

That should create in us a huge hunger and thirst for his Word! Then, we’ll be like “them” (mentioned above)—we’ll see Jesus.

♫ Open my eyes, Lord
I want to see Jesus
To reach out and touch him
And tell him I love him.
Open my ears, Lord
And cause me to listen
Open my eyes, Lord
I want to see Jesus!