April Sunday Reflection, 4/19/20

Seeing With Emmaus Eyes

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emma′us, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. (Luke 24:13-16)

We’ve just passed the celebration of Easter, a different kind of celebrating this year but the same Easter. In the Scripture above, two of Jesus’ followers were heading home the day of the Resurrection. Even though they had heard the reports of his tomb being found empty, their grief and all that had happened those three days had them stunned and questioning, They did not recognize Jesus who came alongside them, but the Scripture also tells us ‘their eyes were kept from recognizing him’. 

It could be that Jesus, himself, allowed this, wanting them to pour out their feelings and all that had happened with his seeming not to know. It gave him the opportunity to shed light on the prophetic Scriptures that foretold of these occurrences. It was when they invited him to stay for supper  that they recognized him in the breaking of the bread. 

We, as a nation and world are currently experiencing a pandemic that daily is taking lives through a new strain of a virus. We may find ourselves stunned, wanting our lives to return to what was known before. We may have friends who have died contracting the virus and our grief is heightened. It is not a time to let ourselves be kept from recognizing Jesus, our risen Savior. He has not stopped walking beside us. His words and promises still ring true even if our eyes are dimmed from the new realities and the uncertain timeline that will bring us out of our homes and into our communities with some semblance of what was once familiar. 

Father, your Son came to our world taking on humanness, growing, feeling, eventually sharing what You gave him to share before he suffered and died. . .for each of us. He took on the sins of all to free us back into relationship with You.

We don’t understand why this time has come upon us and there is a lot yet to be revealed. We are trusting You to enter in to decisions made. Give us eyes wide open to recognize You in the midst of what could look more awful if we did not have You to cling to and trust. Reveal to us what each of us personally needs to know at this time. May we come to look back upon these days knowing in deeper ways that out of suffering and death, Resurrection glory still shines. Amen.

Music

David Meece

I Can See

Click above on song title to listen!