How come we miss him, he is right there

Luke 24:13-35English Standard Version (ESV)

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles[a]from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

**This post contains notes thoughts and references from other sources 

I thought it was very interesting that the two men who were walking were joined by Jesus and they missed him.  He was walking right alongside of them.  They had spent 3 years or more walking with him along the many roads in and around Jerusalem and Nazareth.  By now they were familiar with his steps, and his gate.  They probably knew how he entered and exited, and how quickly or slowly he moved as he went out.  I'm sure that from the backside of a crowd they could pick out his stroll.

For three years they had also heard him in speeches, parables, and teaching.  They were there in the mountains, the plains, and on the way to and from houses, synagogues and the temple.  The Sermon on the Mount, the Sermon on the Plain, the parables about rich and poor, wise and foolish, sinners and Pharisees were all too common.  They could nearly recite the beatitudes from memory, and his voice caught their attention even over the bleating of sheep, and bustle of daily life.

They had seen him heal and deliver other from death.  They knew about his healing touch and the way he interacted with the crowds.  Hands of compassion reaching out to a woman caught in adultery, a gentle touch to a little girl who had died, a hug for the woman who had enough faith to touch his hem, and the comforting hugs he gave Martha just before calling out Lazarus.  

Yes, they had seen him, heard him, walked with him and lived beside him for years.  They had watched from afar, and even watched from the front row.  They even participated in his ministry - passing out fish and bread, arranging the crowds.  These men had placed high hopes on his ministry and his impact, but now as they walked along side the road to Emmaus they couldn't even recognize their friend, Lord, and Savior.  Why?

I have a few brief thoughts on why they couldn't see him.  

First, like the two disciples, we often miss Jesus in our midst because our focus is misdirected.  Other things take first place and capture our attention.  Even for these disciples several things are apparently more in focus than the One in their midst. 

Travel: "That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles[a]from Jerusalem,"

The Scripture says that they needed to head to a village.  They were probably occupied with an obligation to be at Emmaus, the need to get in and off the road before dark, and the pressure of meeting that schedule.  How often is our sight of Christ impaired by

• obligations
• schedules
• and a destination.

They may have been so focused on their travel, that they didn't understand who had come along side to travel with them.

Grief: "And how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him"

Again the scripture says that they were in mourning.  The loss of Christ deeply saddened them.  Sometimes a loss of a loved one, or even an opportunity causes us to loose sight of God's goodness, and his abiding presence.  They were impaired by:

• death
• loss
• sadness

Have you ever looked back on an event and realized that a new door was opened for you, but you were so busy mourning the loss of the closed door, that you didn't notice.  Or that it took you a while to see what was staring you in the face because you were saddened by the other loss.

Daily obligations: 

• work
• food 
• shelter

Second, like the disciples, we sometimes miss out on the King of Kings, and gracious God because we are caught up in our own desires and not his.

 

The disciples said to Jesus, "we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel."  In their mind they were expecting someone to overthrow Rome, to bring healing, wholeness and deliverance back to the Jews.  Many people looked for the Messiah to be a financial, military, social or political deliverer.  They were not expecting God in the flesh.  They may have expected a healer, miracle worker, or provider.  However, few would have expected a humble servant, faithful to death, who would rise from the dead to redeem a faithful people back to God.  The disciples could not see Christ because they were too busy looking for a Savior of their own making

• Healer?
• Miracle worker?
• Deliverer (Military, financial, social, political)?

But they were not looking for the One true God, a suffering servant who would rise from the grave after defeating death.

Third, Our doubts take center stage

Disbelief: And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?

How many times has doubt, disbelief, and fear crept into your view and obscured what you were looking at.  I can recall a new job opportunity staring me in the face, but all I could see was doubt, the unknown, and fear.  Like the disciples, our view of Christ, who walks in our midst and blesses our daily lives can be obscured, blocked, and hindered by

• doubts
• fears
• and a unhelpful wondering of "what if?"

Jesus appeared to the two disciples, who with cast down hearts and glances, made their way on their journey.  The disciples did not recognize their new traveling companion and even as Jesus spoke to them they did not recognize his voice.  Jesus asked them, "Why are you -----?"

When I read the scripture I want to cry out with a smug and pious voice, "How could you not see Jesus as Messiah?" especially after all that he has done.  How could you miss him?  With disdain for their apparent lack and their inability to recognize him I asked how could they miss the Messiah.  I assured myself that I would not have missed him.  But then, I realized how much I am just like the two on the Emmaus road.

We all miss Christ so frequently in our lives.  We are like the travelers on the road to Emmaus, in that we are pressed by time, obligations, schedules and our destination.  We are focused on getting somewhere, doing something, arriving or departing with such determination that we miss Christ on the way.  

"Do we see the Christ as Martin of Tours did when he saw a poor man with no clothes?  Do we see Christ in the helpless face of a child as Mother Theresa did in Calcuta?  Are we traveling so fast to our city that we miss Christ in the face of a tired sanitation worker who wants a fair wage and is willing to march for it? 

The disciples missed the face and voice of Christ because they were focused on the obligations of reaching a destination instead of focusing on the opportunities to enjoy a relationship.

God knows all of this is taking place, and at times He even allows our distractions to remain so that He can slowly reveal himself to us, again."

The resolution:

 As we read this, we want to cry out, "How could you not see Jesus as Messiah after all the wonderful things he did? And how could you not recognize him as he explained the Scriptures to you and your hearts burned within you?" (see verse 32) But until they broke bread with Jesus and the Spirit of God opened their eyes, these men were blind to Jesus' true identity

"It is in the intimacy of fellowship that Jesus is recognized. This setting is no mistake; it is a major Lukan theme. Many of the resurrection appearances he describes are associated with table fellowship (Lk 24:41-43; Acts 1:4; 10:41; also Jn 21:9-15). As Jesus sits at the table, takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it and gives it to them, their eyes were opened. In a situation that recalls the feeding of the five thousand and the Last Supper, the disciples realize that they have been talking with the Lord himself (Lk 9:22; 22:19). Though not a reenactment of the Last Supper, this meal does show that Jesus is present and is known when his disciples remain close to him. The lack of recognition of verse 16 is reversed. Their perplexity over recent events is removed. It is through sitting with Jesus and listening to him that we get to know him." - IVP New Testament Commentary Series

Summary:

Here is the major lesson of the Emmaus Road experience. Though resurrection is hard to believe, be assured that it took place. Its reality means that Jesus' claims are true. He was more than a teacher and more than a prophet. He was the promised, anointed one of God. A host of skeptics saw that this was so, and they believed. Do not be skeptical as these men were. Remember what God required of his Messiah: suffering, then vindication in exaltation. IVP New Testament Commentary Series.  

Also remember that if you want to see, be observant.  If you want know, ask.  If you want to find, seek.  If you want to have the way opened, knock.  God doesn't resist us, He calls, pleads, and waits for us to behold His glory and worship Him.