Scratching our heads on the Emmaus Road: Walking in Ignorance. Ponder that plight of the Blinded Lost Sheep. Luke 24:14-18

Luke 24:14-18 Amplified Bible

¹⁴ And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing it, Jesus Himself came up and began walking with them. ¹⁶ But their eyes were [miraculously] prevented from recognizing Him. ¹⁷ Then Jesus asked them, “What are you discussing with one another as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking brokenhearted. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, answered Him, “Are you the only stranger visiting Jerusalem who is unaware of the things which have happened here in these [recent] days?”

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Does it seem unfair that these disciples were kept from seeing Jesus?

I have heard people say that it seems Jesus was being mysterious, tricky here.

While Jesus walks along with them, the disciples think he is an out-of-touch stranger who has no idea what happened recently in Jerusalem.

But let’s look at this from a different angle.

From a teaching and learning perspective, Jesus makes a brilliant move.

The disciples do not know Jesus is right there with him, so they can express their misunderstanding and frustration without being distracted.

They have no need to try to act as they would if they knew he was there.

They have room to hear God’s story all over again and to begin learning anew.

We learn that they also asked each other later, “Were not our hearts burning within us as he talked with us . . . ?”

Somewhere deep inside they sensed that their fellow traveler had remarkable understanding and authority as he spoke about the Scriptures, but first they needed to be in a space where they could be redirected.

Jesus their shepherd had more than one agenda to attend to in order for them to grow as disciples who would be invited to share in his mission.

While not being able to recognize him, they could begin to develop spiritual eyes of faith by which all new disciples would begin to see him.

How well has the good shepherd gotten your attention lately?

What is he trying to teach you?

Going Down the Emmaus Road: Walking in Ignorance?

How could the disciples on the Emmaus road not recognize Jesus?

They were returning from Jerusalem, where Jesus had been arrested, tried, tortured, crucified, and buried.

Now his body was gone, amid rumors flying that he had risen from the grave.

Just a week earlier they probably had walked with Jesus as he rode a colt into Jerusalem. They had hoped he would declare himself king and take up the ancient throne of David. But instead he was arrested, sentenced, and then crucified. And now they heard tell of an empty tomb and a missing body!

As they wandered home to Emmaus, they wondered about what might have been.

We know Jesus rose from the grave, yet we too can still live in the dark about his presence, or even ignore him. At this point those two disciples were in the dark since Jesus hadn’t revealed himself to them. They must have wondered who this person was who didn’t seem to know what had happened in Jerusalem.

So they filled him in.

Walking the resurrection road is still enormously challenging today.

Living consciously and intentionally in Jesus’ presence is a daily challenge.

We so readily miss the reality of Christ with us.

Yet this is our hope: Christ is with us whether we recognize him or not.

Don’t intentionally ignore him.

Look for him.

Immanuel, “God with us,”

“God walks with us.”

“God talks with us.”

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

God Sustains His Servant.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

40 I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord;
And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
² 
He brought me up out of a horrible pit [of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay,
And He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps and establishing my path.
³ 
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear [with great reverence]
And will trust confidently in the Lord.

⁴ 
Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who makes the Lord his trust,
And does not regard the proud nor those who lapse into lies.
⁵ 
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of your wonders,
They would be too many to count.

⁶ 
Sacrifice and meal offering You do not desire, nor do You delight in them;
You have opened my ears and given me the capacity to hear [and obey Your word];
Burnt offerings and sin offerings You do not require.
⁷ 
Then I said, “Behold, I come [to the throne];
In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
⁸ 
“I delight to do Your will, O my God;
Your law is within my heart.”

⁹ 
I have proclaimed good news of righteousness [and the joy that comes from obedience to You] in the great assembly;
Behold, I will not restrain my lips [from proclaiming Your righteousness],
As You know, O Lord.
¹⁰ 
I have not concealed Your righteousness within my heart;
I have proclaimed Your faithfulness and Your salvation.
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great assembly.

¹¹ 
Do not withhold Your compassion and tender mercy from me, O Lord;
Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.
¹² 
For innumerable evils have encompassed me;
My sins have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see.
They are more numerous than the hairs of my head,
And my heart has failed me.

¹³ 
Be pleased, O Lord, to save me;
O Lord, make haste to help me.
¹⁴ 
Let those be ashamed and humiliated together
Who seek my life to destroy it;
Let those be turned back [in defeat] and dishonored
Who delight in my hurt.
¹⁵ 
Let those be appalled and desolate because of their shame
Who say to me, “Aha, aha [rejoicing in my misfortune]!”
¹⁶ 
Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
Let those who love Your salvation say continually,
“The Lord be magnified!”
¹⁷ 
Even though I am afflicted and needy,
Still the Lord takes thought and is mindful of me.
You are my help and my rescuer.
O my God, do not delay.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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