Luke 24:29 But they urged Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over." So He went in to stay with them.
After Jesus' resurrection He appeared to two of His followers as they walked down a road. They were talking about Jesus and the events of the past few days, including the crucifixion and Jesus' absence from the tomb a few days afterward. Even as Jesus walked next to them and they were talking about Him, they did not recognize Him...in fact Luke tells us "their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him." There are many of us who have heard about Jesus and even celebrated many Christmases and Easters. We have talked about Him and the events of His life, death and resurrection. In a sense they are familiar. But, like those followers we may not have realized that He is also walking next to us. It takes a supernatural "opening of our eyes" to recognize the Savior who walks alongside us. But as they walked, Jesus opened the meaning of the Old Testament scriptures that had foretold of His purpose in coming. The scriptures were familiar, but their meaning was finally understood. The two men began to feel an awakening of their understanding and, without yet knowing that Jesus was their companion, they experienced a strong desire to have Him stay with them. And as we read or hear the Bible and our understanding is opened, we also feel that desire to have Jesus stay with us. As the verse says above, it was "getting toward evening" and the day was "nearly over". Isn't that true for each of us, too. Our lives are like a day and, no matter our age, the day will soon be over and we will enter a new dimension of existence. Jesus responded to their invitation and "went in to stay with them". Jesus still responds and eagerly stays with us too. As they shared a meal Jesus revealed His identity to them when He broke bread. Remember, Jesus told the Disciples to remember the gift of His broken body through the breaking of bread. He chose this instant to open their eyes. Jesus opens our eyes when we realize that He has broken the bread of His body to pay a price for us and then, like the bread, to feed us for eternity.
Like the two disciples on the road I hope you have had this experience. Can you relate personally to them? Can you relate to their words in Luke 24:32 Then they said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us". ? Their response after recognizing Him, was to believe in Him and their first act was to go and tell the others of how they came to know Him. I hope you have met Jesus on the the road...have understood the truth of His life...have recognized Him next to you...have believed in Him...are walking in a new life with a desire to tell others of how you came to know Him!
blessings,
Rob Smith
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