The multitude of Jews who had gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover slowly began to make their way home. The events of the past week left many of them bewildered and disappointed. Their hope of a king and an independent nation died when Jesus Christ breathed his final breath at Calvary. Surely He was the Messiah, no mortal man could have taught like He did, nor perform the miracles He did, but now He was gone. The news of the empty tomb only led to more questions, more doubt, and more speculation. Such was the case of two men heading to their home in Emmaus. While they walked and talked about these events, the risen Jesus joined them, but they didn’t recognize Him.
“And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him” (Luke 24:15-16).
As they continued to walk, the two men told Jesus about the events of the past few days. In turn, Jesus clearly explained the Old Testament teachings of his life, death, and resurrection. Later in the evening, as the two men sat down to eat with Jesus, they suddenly realized that the man they were talking to was Jesus.
“And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight” (Luke 24:31).
These two men almost missed the purpose of the greatest event in history. Why? Because they were focused on their own expectations, disappointments, and misguided view of The Messiah. Are we really any different? All too often we treat Jesus like a “Genie in a Bottle.” We only go to Him when we want something, and even then we have pre-conceived ideas of how He should answer our prayers. We go to Him for deliverance from trouble, rarely just to commune with Him. Jesus desires to have a relationship with us, walking and talking with us as we journey thru life. Don’t miss Him, get your mind on Him, enjoy the fellowship, and let Him take care of the details.
“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32)
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7)