Luke 24:25-35

Luke 24:25-35 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

These followers of Jesus confirmed the women's report of what the angels said at the tomb: The Lord has risen. It is of interest that Jesus acted as the host when he broke bread in the household of the two, usually the host offers the bread. This act was probably necessary for them to realize that He was the Christ. When He broke the bread, their eyes were opened. He might have said the words that he said at the Lord's Supper. And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) If so, these two disciples probably had heard these words expressed by the Twelve when they told of the Lord's Supper. For whatever reasons, their eyes were opened when He began to hand out the bread. The scriptures alone did not reveal Jesus to them as they walked with him, for He had reminded them of the prophecies concerning him, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets. The Word alone does not give life; in fact, wrongly used it can bring death. But recognizing Jesus and repeating his words in your heart brings life. These followers were ignorant of Jesus' presence until they recognized him as the bread of life.

When their eyes are opened to him and his holy presence, they see him as Lord, recalling how their hearts did indeed feel his inspiration on the road, but they were slow to recognize the source of the power that stirred them. Often we do not see Jesus as He walks with us, when He moves situations and circumstances to reveal himself and to accomplish his will. We do not thank him for blessings that come to us or events that change for the good, including answers to prayer. Even Christians might say, "I was sure lucky," or "I can't believe how well that turned out." Instead we should remember to thank God for the miracles and to praise him that He is with us and cares for his own. We should receive daily bread from his hands, listening for his words to guide us in good times and in bad. Peter wrote, Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7) Likewise, Paul understood that our lives are now hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3) because He had learned to abide in Jesus and to hear his voice. As a result we hear Paul giving thanks to God in everything. In praise and recognition of Christ, even in disappoints and hard circumstances, he says, But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. (2 Corinthians 2:14)

God loves to hear our praise. He longs to see us in prayer, Bible study, and meditation, calling upon him for guidance through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is pleased when we see Jesus walking beside us on the road and stop to hear him, ceasing from our frenetic running to and fro. Today as we travel life's super highway with all its distractions and the responsibilities of living, we need to pause and to look up, look up and live, look up and see the hand of God extended to us. As we see and hear him, we will be able to share his love with others and to fulfill his perfect will despite our failings and tendency to stray. As John said, Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. (1 John 3:18-20) Today, look to the right and to the left; see Jesus there, see the work of his hands, his footprints in your heart and life. As you yield to him and thank him for his mercy and grace, you will overflow with loving kindness for others. People want answers for their lives. If you practice the presence of Jesus, you can say in faith, "God loves you. I was just talking and walking with him and He told me to tell you this."