As the disciples walked to Emmaus, Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe what the prophets wrote in Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Isn’t beautiful how you can read Scriptures at different times in your life and notice different things based on your life at the time? This part of the walk to Emmaus story stuck out to me most recently. I can only imagine how frustrating it was for Jesus to see his disciples doubting so quickly after his death. But I can also certainly understand how they would feel so defeated and confused. Yet Jesus took the time to walk his disciples through the scriptures to understand the present situation.
I wish Jesus could physically walk with us to talk about all the things, don’t you? I feel like it would be helpful to have Jesus waking me up sometimes! And yet, the disciples didn’t even know it was Jesus walking with them. He hid his identity from them even though his presence and sprit were surely there.
I wonder why he didn’t open their eyes while they were walking? Maybe it was his first lesson in teaching them to be aware of his spirit within them. He knew that he was going to be absent in the physical form for the rest of their ministries, but also knew that he was leaving them with his spirit, and they would need to understand that presence. After opening their eyes and sharing communion with them, he again disappeared. “They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” If they had known it was Jesus while they walked, they would not have been able to identify that they could actually feel his presence without even seeing him. Now they knew what his spirit felt like, and that it was something that they needed to pay attention to.
I like to think about how our eyes will be opened in heaven because I think we will be overcome with gratitude as we realize all the times he has walked with us when we failed to recognize it. I wonder if one of the purposes of this life on Earth is just the practice of identifying his spirit within us. He said he would not leave us orphans but would leave us with his spirit. Let’s make time and space to becoming more aware of his presence and let him wake us up to our occasional foolishness. For he is with us.
Kelly Judd, Director of the Grove, Family and Couples Ministry
