It’s been a long week. You have gotten some not so good news this week. Things are not going the way you though they were. Now, on top of that, there is nothing to cook at the house, so a dreaded trip to the grocery store is in order. You just want to get what you need and go home. But in the midst of your journey through what seems endless aisles of things you don’t need to find the few things you do, a sweet lady stops you, speaks and asks how was your day. You have so many things running through your mind and consuming your heart, it’s almost like her question is muffled. You give her your best, “It was Ok” and hope to move on. But she insists on having conversation and showing genuine concern for you. After a few minutes of conversation that you didn’t quite engage in, because of everything seemingly weighing on you, she concludes her time with you by saying, “Sweetheart, I’ll be praying for you. Remember God is all you need and He’s all He says he is.” Could it be that we are so caught up in our circumstances that we don’t even recognize when Jesus sends us an answer? Are we so engulfed in our today, that when “the One who holds our tomorrow” shows up we don’t even recognize him?
I know this scripture reference is a little lengthy, but it is good. I want you to read this passage about the event on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35. The resurrection had just taken place and the empty tomb had been seen by several close to Jesus.
In Luke 24 (ESV) we read,
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven milesfrom 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 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
Jesus appeared to two, who should have known him, and they didn’t recognize him. Verse 16 says, “Their eyes kept them from recognizing him.” What so has your attention, that you don’t recognize when Jesus shows up? As he walks with them he starts to question their conversation. He wanted to know what was causing their discussion and disagreement. Their reaction was priceless. They didn’t give him an answer. They only wanted to know why he wasn’t as concerned as they were about what had just occurred. Then they proceeded to explain why they were in “such a way.” The one that we thought would redeem Israel, had died and now the tomb was empty and he is gone and we don’t know what to make of it. Isn’t it ironic that the answer to their concern was in their midst and they didn’t even know it. Isn’t that just like us. Jesus is trying to give us peace, wisdom, answers, in situations, and we can’t even recognize it, because we are asking him why he’s not as concerned with our problems as we are. I can’t get past how they responded to Jesus in Verse 19. As they were explaining their conversation to Jesus, they referred to him as a Powerful Prophet who spoke the word of God before all the people and that Jesus was crucified. I love what one commentary says about these verses; They had not grasped the true identity of Jesus or the necessity and importance of his death. At this point, these two men, who walked with Jesus did not get the fact that he was truly the Son of God, the one who would save the world. How is it that we, who call ourselves children of God, can walk with him, and still not fully grasp the true identity of Jesus? We are not allowing Jesus to be who He is, in our lives. He has come to give us abundant life, but that can only be accomplished when we give him his rightful place in our lives and allow him to do all he can do through us. Many of us still have our grip on things in our life and are not allowing God full control. We are missing our miracle, our peace, our joy, because we are not willing to commit to full surrender. His sacrifice, brutal crucifixion and amazing resurrection should not be diminished by our lack of zeal in our walk with Christ.
What has us so consumed that we are not recognizing Jesus in our everyday life? What is causing us to miss our “ God moments”? You have the answer, no matter what the question or concern is! That should be enough to make you shout! You’ve got to get this! No matter your circumstance… Jesus is the answer. Are you allowing him to work or are you telling him why he should understand why you feel the way you do? Jesus cares for you more than you know, but he also realizes that the things that are holding you captive, he is great enough to break those bondages.
As the two disciples sit with Jesus and break bread they realize just who they are sitting with. They find the other disciples and tell them the resurrection is real! As they are talking, Jesus shows up in the middle of them and it totally catches them by surprise. How ironic it is that they were shocked to see him even though they had just been talking and rejoicing about his resurrection! Isn’t that just like Jesus to show up in a situation that seems unlikely. Why are we so surprised that Jesus can do what he says he can do? Do we truly believe he is who he says he is?
The Report says:
Jesus is Lord
The tomb is empty
He is alive and in control
So how about we live our lives believing this report! If we are looking for him, we will recognize him.

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