"EYES WERE OPENED!"

Luke 24:13-31                               (ESV)
"13 That very day two of them (two of the disciples) 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."



While this passage of Scripture is rather lengthy, and brings to mind an abundance of commentary, I will attempt to avoid getting too engulfed so I can cover a couple of things I feel led to share about these words of a risen LORD!

JESUS came upon two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus.  HE began talking to them about what they had been discussing.  Although they knew JESUS, they were unable to recognize HIM because "their eyes were kept from recognizing HIM."  They told JESUS that they thought the Messiah was "the one to redeem Israel", but now HE had been crucified and all hope seemed to be gone.  Their idea of what JESUS would do was limited by their ability to fathom the unfathomable and they were unable to SEE JESUS even walking down the road with them.

JESUS came to seek and save the whole world, yet they were only looking for someone who would "redeem Israel".  The mission of JESUS had been prophesied for thousands of years, yet they were so obsessed with what they THOUGHT the Messiah would be that they missed HIS message of setting people free from sin!

Are we guilty of doing the same thing?  We have Scripture right in front of us, yet we don't study it enough to even know the simplest of basic Beliefs?  JESUS told them "slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!"  They had scripture before them, but they didn't KNOW IT well enough to expect a change in their lives!  The Spirit of JESUS CHRIST lives in my body and my eyes may be looking for what I perceive the Kingdom of GOD might be. When JESUS HIMSELF is in my midst, will I recognize HIM, or will I be wanting to see my perception of what HIS Glory will be?

Only JESUS can change what we SEE simply by causing us to grasp something that is right before our eyes!  Their "EYES WERE OPENED", not that they were walking to Emmaus with closed eyes, but they couldn't SEE JESUS when HE was right before them.  They knew what HE looked like, they were intimately acquainted with HIM!  But JESUS revealed HIMSELF at just the right moment to accomplish HIS purpose, something HE is quite adept at!

HEAVENLY FATHER, cause me to search YOUR WORD daily for the truths you would have me to know, and that my "EYES BE OPENED" to see what YOU would have me perform for the Kingdom of GOD.