“THEIR EYES WERE OPENED!”

Luke 24:13-35                                          (ESV)

“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 (JESUS) 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.”

While this passage of Scripture is lengthy in comparison to most days, it must all be considered to grasp the TRUTH that is being revealed to us.  The “two of them” that were walking on the road to Emmaus were confused about the events of the preceding days.  Although JESUS had explained to them on several occasions that HE must suffer and die for the remission of sins, they could not SEE THE TRUTH of HIS demise because THEIR EYES WERE KEPT FROM RECOGNIZING TRUTH until it was revealed to them!

These trusted men of GOD IN THE FLESH were prevented from SEEING JESUS, even though HE was right in front of them, HE was well known to them, and HE wanted them to recognize HIM for WHO HE was.  “O FOOLISH ONES, AND SLOW OF HEART TO BELIEVE ALL THAT THE PROPHETS HAVE SPOKEN!  WAS IT NOT NECESSARY THAT THE CHRIST SHOULD SUFFER THESE THINGS AND ENTER INTO HIS GLORY?" was HIS question for them.  THE PROPHETS were simply men used by GOD for HIS GLORY, but they weren’t familiar with what had been written about HIM to recognize the sacrifice that had to be paid by the spotless LAMB OF GOD!  

Imagine the disappointment, despair, anger, defeat and every other emotion imaginable the one’s who had Believed were experiencing since JESUS had been killed by the JEWS?  Now JESUS was walking right beside them and they couldn’t even recognize HIM.  

Can I recognize HIM when HE is right before me?  DO I STUDY SCRIPTURE ENOUGH TO BE READY TO SEE HIM?  Do I have a STRONG DESIRE to be used by and for HIM?    When the time came, “THEIR EYES WERE OPENED” to SEE TRUTH walking in their midst.  My prayer is that I will be ready, willing and able to SEE when “THEIR EYES WERE OPENED” for HIS GLORY!!!