On the Road to Emmaus
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. Luke 24:13-24 ESV
Still lingering in the season and celebration of Easter, this passage from Scripture captures my heart. Jesus in plain sight was not recognized by those who had followed Him and believed on Him to be Messiah. And yet, He patiently waited for them to come around to realizing He had been there all along.
I don’t want to be ‘missing out’ on an experience with Jesus. For me, that would be the ultimate F.O.M.O (fear of missing out).
These two men were going about their daily lives, walking and talking about current events. Jesus drops in on their conversation and gets them to share their thoughts and emotions about the recent chaos that befell their community. The risen Lord was in their company and they were so enraptured with their busyness that they missed it. That is, until He divinely revealed Himself to them.
This passage of Scripture speaks volumes and causes me to examine the many, many times I, too, was caught up in my ‘important business’ that I was missing out on the presence of Jesus. I had forgotten to invite Him in to my day. I had neglected to see that He was always there, seeing me hustle, bustle, and worry, telling me to slow down and rest in His care.
I know that the Lord doesn’t hide Himself from us. In fact, He reminds us to draw near to Him and He will draw near to us.
8 Come near to God, and God will come near to you. You sinners, clean sin out of your lives. You who are trying to follow God and the world at the same time, make your thinking pure. James 4:8 NCV
All that the Savior endured, He immediately returns to fellowship with His disciples to comfort them and reassure them He is Who He claimed to be from the start. His never ending forgiveness, as He appeared to Peter (which I would have loved to have been a butterfly in the midst to witness that one) after His resurrection must have been just beyond jaw-dropping.
But Jesus did exactly as He said He would ~ His followers had forgotten some of those details and got caught up in their grief. Sound familiar?
Believers can get distracted, too. Just because we are Christ Followers, doesn’t grant us immunity from human cares and concerns of the world. And if I may say so, Believers can forget that our lifestyle and behavior can sometimes look like we are just like the rest of the world … the way we treat those with few possessions, perhaps choosing to associate or devote time to causes of humanity while not spending time with humans, negating compassion and grace yet demanding it to promote our own agendas.
El Roi ~ the GOD Who sees. And He sees it all.
This may be a call to remove some of our routine ways, to make way for experiencing the presence of the Lord on a deeper level, eyes wide open and fully aware that He is always here.
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~
LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary
Titus Two 