… but they were prevented from recognizing him” Does God move among us and we miss it? Does he work and yet he hides it? Yes and Yes
I wrote a few weeks ago that I have long been fascinated with Genesis 18 that Abraham was so close to God that the question was if he should hide his work from Abraham. I definitely try to be sensitive and aware of the ways and work of God around me. But God is always at work around us, that’s what Jesus said.
So, if God is always at work, then reality is:
- sometimes we don’t care to know
- Sometimes we fail to know
- Other times it is hidden from us, but he is still desiring to teach us.
Luke 9:45: 18:34 Jesus speaks about his coming death and resurrection and it says, “it was concealed from them – so that they could not grasp, and were afraid to ask”
Interesting
I think it was hidden because although well-meaning, they would have gotten in the way. But also interesting they sensed something but, “were afraid to ask.” Maybe sometimes he hides fullness because we don’t want to know what he is doing – we are a little scared that if we know we will be accountable for action.
There was another time, after the resurrection, in John 21 when they didn’t recognize him. Now it certainly could be they didn’t recognize because he “hid” himself, or because they were considering going back to the old business, leaving their call.
Remember they had “pulled their boats on shore and left their nets and followed him.” Then Peter says, in John 21, “I’m going fishing.” Commercial fishing happened mostly at night, so they could sell in the morning – so perhaps this wasn’t casual fishing. Peter didn’t go alone, he took his partners – it was Peter and 6 others. Maybe – though Jesus was alive – they thought their opportunity was gone because of “failure” in leaving Jesus.
But Jesus renewed their call that morning. Feed my sheep… Follow Me… Don’t worry about anyone else… YOU… Follow me
So, I chased a rabbit there, but come back to these men on Resurrection Sunday, on the road to Emmaus. They were discussing and arguing about everything that happened. Jesus shows up – they didn’t recognize. I wonder if maybe his skin had been refreshed and renewed and he just looked a little different.
Jesus says, “what’s the dispute… 17b … they stopped walking and looked discouraged…” WOW that got my attention
Stuff happens – we don’t understand what God is doing – but Jesus IS Teaching and he is Walking With us.
They told this one, who they didn’t recognize, about “Jesus of Nazareth a Powerful Prophet and Preacher… but he was killed… we thought he was going to redeem Israel… Now it’s the Third Day.” Hmm … could it be that they had heard the previous statements of Jesus and half hoped…”
Then they said, “we heard some women saw angels… but the tomb was empty”
Often we are so close to understand… but we are stuck in unbelief.
Jesus says in v25 – “how foolish… and slow to believe… wasn’t it necessary to suffer those things…”
Believe what we already know and what we see will make more sense. Stop trying to make Jesus “fit” your path and agenda
“Beginning with Moses and the Prophets he interpreted for them the things concerning himself.”
Would you have loved to hear Jesus break down the Word? Perhaps he used a list like this:
- Pentateuch (Moses) – Genesis 3:15, 12:3, 22:18; Numbers 21:9, 24:17
- Prophets – 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, 52:13-53:12; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Daniel 7:13-14, 9:24-27; Miah 5:2; Zechariah 9:9, 12:10
- Perhaps the Psalms – Psalm 2, 8, 16, 22, 23 – among others
They ate it up! They invited him to stay with them for dinner, and then he broke bread and gave it to them and their eyes were opened, they recognized and he disappeared.
“weren’t our hearts burning while he was talking… explaining”
It was evening, but they left and went and told everyone what had happened.
Oh my, look for Jesus, Recognize his teaching, Believe what you already know, and then Tell everyone that he is Risen
Pastor Goforth 