“THEIR EYES WERE OPENED!”

 

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.”

Just because we cannot comprehend what we are involved with, maybe even explicitly, DOES NOT indicate that OUR EYES will not be OPENED to TRUTH later on as we PROGRESS through our lives?  In Luke 24:15-16 it is written “While they were talking and discussing together, JESUS HIMSELF drew near and went with them.  But THEIR EYES WERE KEPT FROM RECOGNIZING HIM.”  Cleopas and his companion were walking on the Road to Emmaus (about seven miles from Jerusalem) when they were “joined” by JESUS HIMSELF!  “Cleopas was not one of the Twelve, but some have surmised that he was one of the seventy (Luke 10). Scripture does not give us any details about Cleopas other than he and an unknown disciple saw the risen Lord on their way to Emmaus” says one commentary.  But one thing is undeniable, THEIR EYES WERE KEPT FROM RECOGNIZING HIM (JESUS) until “THEIR EYES WERE OPENED”, and THEY RECOGNIZED HIM!!!

A fellow BELIEVER IN CHRIST once was expounding to me about 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 and how the Apostle Paul’s EYES WERE OPENED to TRUTH and JESUS CHRIST had “eliminated” racial hostilities through HIS sacrifice for ALL SIN!  Accepting what my friend had made known to himself didn’t happen immediately AS MY MIND WAS MOVING TOO QUICKLY TO COMPREHEND WHAT WAS BEING SAID!  Over time I was able to understand what ONLY GOD was getting through my understanding!  But ONLY because “THEIR EYES WERE OPENED”!!!

Cleopas and his friend could not SEE JESUS, even though HE was walking IN THEIR MIDST!  THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES was on the Road to Emmaus, yet their EYES were not OPENED until HE was vanishing from their sight!  To my knowledge, SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT isn’t something that is replicated precisely the same way at exactly the same time in everyone’s life.  When the HOLY SPIRIT reveals to your heart THE TRUTH, I pray that you will be receptive and SEE THE NEED for a SAVIOR!  “THEIR EYES WERE OPENED “ will then have a NEW meaning for you!!!