“THEIR EYES!”

 Luke 24:13-16                                          (ESV)

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.”

Luke 24:28-35                                       (ESV)

[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.”

Picture, if you will, being a follower of GOD IN THE FLESH and watching HIM being crucified on a Roman cross for no legitimate reason!  Three days later HE was GONE from HIS tomb, and a common thought amongst the authorities was that HIS followers had stolen HIS body, either to authenticate and validate HIS Deity, or to prevent the authorities from pillaging HIS remains.  The “TWO OF THEM” mentioned were most likely Cleopas (Luke 24:18) and Simon (Luke 24:34).

“THEIR EYES” had SEEN JESUS consistently in the period before the Crucifixion as both were devout followers of JESUS.  Why then were they not able to identify and recognize the SON OF GOD walking in their midst?  Scripture says in Luke 24:16 “BUT “THEIR EYES” WERE KEPT FROM RECOGNIZING HIM”?  Scripture doesn’t plainly say WHO caused the followers to NOT recognize the RISEN SAVIOR.  When an occurrence comes about that is unexplainable, it should cause us to consider WHO is behind that occurrence and WHAT are THEY working towards?

John 1:1 is roughly three paragraphs later in Scripture.  It has the subtitle “The WORD Became Flesh” and says “In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD.”  The WORD we KNOW is referring to JESUS the CHRIST!   Could JESUS have precluded these men of GOD from recognizing HIM to strengthen their FAITH so they would be stronger later on in their lives?  

From my limited knowledge, The WORD doesn’t explicitly say WHY JESUS appeared to HIS followers on the road to Emmaus, but one could imagine that JESUS was REVEALING HIS RISEN SELF to some of HIS closest followers.  In doing so, his disciples were told “The LORD has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”  “THEIR EYES” were KEPT FROM recognizing HIM at first, BUT THEN “THEIR EYES” WERE OPENED, and THEY RECOGNIZED HIM, IN HIS TIMING, and FOR HIS GLORY!!!