“THEY RECOGNIZED 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.

Cleopas and an unnamed man were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, an approximately seven mile journey.  Speculation has it that Cleopas was a relative of JESUS,  but we mustn’t let that overshadow the MESSAGE that is being sent by “this encounter”!  

JESUS had been brutally tortured and crucified only a few days prior, and Cleopas and the unnamed companion were reminiscing about the events of THAT DAY!  While in the walk to Emmaus, JESUS “drew near” and “went with them”.  JESUS asked them what they were discussing, and Cleopas said “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”  It is VERY OBVIOUS that Cleopas and his friend DID NOT know WHO they were walking with at the time???

In verse 31 it PLAINLY says “And THEIR EYES WERE OPENED, and “THEY (Cleopas and friend) RECOGNIZED HIM”.  And HE VANISHED FROM THEIR SIGHT!”  Why did JESUS make HIMSELF known to them?  Why didn’t they recognize that there was something different about HIM?  Why did HE wait PRECISELY for this time to make this REVELATION known to them?  Why didn’t JESUS go to HIS Disciples first?  

I’m sure that the Disciples wondered all of these things, AND MORE, when they were notified of this event?  The thing that MUST not be neglected is that JESUS orchestrated that “THEY RECOGNIZED HIM”, telling us that JESUS has CHOSEN precisely every person who is CHOSEN!!!  “THEY RECOGNIZED HIM”, ONLY because JESUS CHOSE them to SEE TRUTH!!!