Luke 24:15-17
While they were talking and discussing [the things that happpened regarding Jesus' death], Jesus himself cmae near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad…
…Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared”… Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
…he walked along as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.”
Two questions from this story immediately come to mind. 1) Why did Jesus not allow them to know who he was? 2) What if they had not invited Jesus to stay with them? Would they have ever realized it was him?
I wonder if the disciples were kept from recognizing Jesus because if they had they would have been unable/unwilling to take the time to understand the scriptures about Jesus. I’m pretty sure if they had realized it was Jesus they would have freaked out with all sorts of questions like “how? when? what are you doing here?” that they never would have had the desire to actually walk and learn all that scripture said about him.
Jesus placed value in not simply having his disciples know that he was alive again, but understanding how this all fit together in the greater story of God’s love for humanity. I wonder if we have lost something because we have not taken time to understand the greater love story in the scriptures. It was important enough to Jesus that his disciples understand it that he revealed himself to them so that they could understand it. He created a context in which he could be assured that the disciples would understand the importance and value of the entire scriptures and what they said about him. We must learn to value the greater story. We must learn the greater story. We must teach the greater story. The disciples described their experience of having the scriptures opened up to them by Jesus as their “hearts burning within…”
What if the disciples hadn’t insisted Jesus stay? What if they had let him walk on, thinking only that he was a great teacher? Would Jesus have revealed himself anyway? Would their eyes have been opened as they watched him walk away? Or would they have been left with new knowledge, learning, and information about Jesus that they could go and teach but without an encounter with the person of Jesus? How vital is the personal encounter with Jesus!
I wonder if Jesus ever walks with us, but we don’t insist that he stays, so he walks on and we are better for the experience, but still wondering where Jesus is – even though he was just with us! I wonder this a lot. So often people ask me, “Where is Jesus when I need him?” I wonder if he’s been there, but we’ve let him get away. The disciples encounter with Jesus was initiated by Jesus, but actualized by their pursuit of him. I wonder how often we have dismissed strangers because we assumed they were homeless men or women, “strange” people, or unimportant, or simply because we were too busy or uninterested. I wonder how many times we have dismissed Jesus? What would this story be like if the disciples had told this stranger, “we are too lost in grief, do not bother us” when he had asked,”What are you talking about?”?
Jesus, help me to be on the lookout for where you intersect my life.
Help me to learn your great love story found in the scriptures
so that I can teach it to others in ways they can understand.
Help me to willingly welcome you into my life as the strangers.
Forgive me for the times I have cast you aside for something “better” or “more attractive”.
I love you, and I desperately need you in my life.
Amen.