DATE: MONDAY, 10TH APRIL, 2023
TOPIC: THEIR EYES WERE OPENED
TEXT:
13. Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.
14. And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.
16. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
17. And He said to them, "What kind of conversation [is] this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?"
18. Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?"
19. And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
20. "and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.
21. "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.
22. "Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.
23. "When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.
24. "And certain 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. Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
26. "Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?"
27. And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
28. Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.
29. But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them.
30. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke [it,] and gave it to them.
31. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
32. And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"
33. So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those [who were] with them gathered together,
34. saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"
35. And they told about the things [that had happened] on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
MESSAGE:
Cleopas and another disciple were walking to Emmaus and Jesus joined them. They discussed the crucifixion and their fear that their religious and political leaders have terminated the Messianic ministry of Jesus. Surprisingly they did not recognize Jesus. He however expounded Scriptures from the Old Testament concerning the Messiah, and how the crucifixion had fulfilled biblical prophecies (v.27). Towards evening, they invited Jesus to stay with them and he obliged them. Their eyes became opened to recognize Him when He broke bread and he disappeared from their midst vs.31). They went back with joy, not minding the time, to spread the good news about the risen Lord to the eleven disciples.
Beloved, Jesus is known by revelation. You can be knowledgeable about biblical writings or be known as a disciple, without understanding the implication of His sacrifice at Calvary on your personal life. When their spiritual eyes were opened, the time of the day, their mission and sacrifice of walking eleven kilometers to Emmaus became unimportant. Their utmost concern was to spread the good news of the risen Savior. This shows that real understanding and touch from the Master changes our priorities in life, ignites our hearts, to make His gospel our utmost pursuit. Earnestly pray that your spiritual eyes be opened, your hearts ignited to understand Jesus through the Scriptures, to become a messenger of the good news.
PRAYER:
O Lord, open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Psalm 119:18).
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