kept from recognizing him

Opening Prayer:  Lord Jesus, the truth is that sometimes you are walking along with us and we do not, or cannot, recognize you.  Have mercy on us, O Lord, and help us to see you and to hear you.  For apart from that we have no hope.  Amen. 

Scripture: Luke 24:15-16

Journal: What most often keeps you from being able to recognize Jesus?  How has he typically opened your eyes?  Where in your life right now might he be waiting on you to recognize him?  Why might he be keeping you, temporarily, from that?  What do you think he’s up to?

Reflection: “While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.  But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” (Luke 24:15-16, NIV)

     Wait, what?  So someone or something was keeping them from being able to recognize Jesus as he walked along with them?  But who, or what, was actually doing this keeping?  That is the million dollar question.  

     I suppose it could have been their own circumstances or preoccupations that kept them from recognizing him.  Sometimes our own patterns and preferences and perspectives and agendas can keep us from being able to recognize exactly where Jesus is and what he is up to.  Heaven knows that has happened to me more times than I’d care to admit.  

     Or they could have been so engrossed in their own narrative, in their own thoughts and questions, and the conversation that ensued, that their hair could have been on fire and they would not have noticed.  Sometimes we can get so consumed with our own smaller stories that we miss the larger story unfolding right before our very eyes.  I’ve definitely been guilty of that one a time or two as well.

     But what if they were being kept from recognizing Jesus, by Jesus himself?  Right or wrong, that is how I have usually interpreted this passage, like Jesus was the one who was actually keeping them from being able to recognize him.  It was kind of a timing thing.  He didn’t let them recognize him earlier because he wanted them to struggle a little bit first.  He knew that the struggle would be a good thing, it would make them stronger and more open and more dependent.  It would make them more receptive to him when he finally made himself known.  To reveal himself any earlier might have hindered all of this from happening.  They needed the questions and the conversation and the struggle and the wondering in order that when they finally did recognize it was Jesus, it would have the desired effect.

     That would make total sense to me, because Jesus always has impeccable timing.  He knows how and where and when to reveal himself, so that when he does it will be effectual.  So he doesn’t show himself before we are ready and he doesn’t make us wait until it’s too late.  Eventually he always takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to each of us.  And when he finally does, our eyes are opened and we say, “Were not our hearts burning within us as he talked with us on the road.”  Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Help us to recognize you, Lord Jesus, as you walk along the road with us this day.  Amen.