Would You Know Him?

“And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them.  But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him.” “…and it came to pass as He sat at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it and brake, and gave to them.  And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight.”       Luke 24:15-16, 30-31

 
There are times when I wonder if Jesus appeared to us today, communing as a stranger, if we would know Him?
In Hebrews 13:2, the Bible says, we
“…entertain angels unaware.”  What if Jesus stood in our midst listening to our conversation regarding our faith as we go through our trials and tribulations?  How would He perceive our faith and knowledge of His teachings?  

In the verse above, found in Luke 24, Cleopas and a fellow Believer are sadly walking home together on the third day following the crucifixion of Jesus; when amazingly, they are approached by Jesus querying the saddened state of their conversation.  Astonished that Jesus is unaware of the occurrences of the last three days; Cleopas explains that, their solemn demeanor is the result of the events concerning Jesus’ life and subsequent crucifixion. Transfixed by the Spirit of God, they are unaware that they are speaking directly to the very person they are speaking about.They did not recognize Him!  Their lack of faith and disillusion inhibited their recognition of Jesus standing right in their midst. Now, really consider this for a moment, and tell the truth. What if Jesus was standing around listening to your conversation? --What would He hear? 

Jesus eventually rebukes their lack of faith, teaching them about the Biblical prophesies foretelling His life, crucifixion, and subsequent resurrection. When they finally reach their destination, Cleopas and his friend insist that Jesus dine with them; he accepts, eventually offering communion.  Immediately after they take communion, and become one with the Father, their eyes are opened and--Jesus vanishes. 

We realize that after their eyes were opened, Jesus did not need to linger with them any longer; their faith was restored.  In accepting the invitation to commune with them, Jesus gave the two men immediate replenishment and the strength to persevere. So much so, that they were able to walk the 7.5 miles back to Jerusalem—completely transformed and jubilant!

Here's what I learned from this story:

• First, be aware of your conversation when things appear bleak and your faith is lacking.  Your own words can create depression. Understand that by focusing on Jesus, your strength, faith, and understanding will be renewed so you can see what you really need to see—Him. 
• Second, the minute your perception changes, the condition of the problem also changes! A change in perspective enables you to proactively return to the source of the problem to face it head-on. 
• And finally, in the story, Jesus found his weary Believers and strengthened them. Like the parable of the Lost Sheep, He found them!  He found them in their weariness and weakened state; and, when they invited Him into their lives, He renewed their focus and strengthened their resolve! 

Like Cleopas and his friend, when you take the time to reconnect with God, He will provide exactly what your Spirit needs.  He will renew your strength and perspective so you can persevere through any issue with victory!   L. 

Study Reference: Luke 24:1-53
From: "Would You Know Him?" In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell

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