READ: Luke 24 (Focus vs. 13-16, 25-35)
MEMORY VERSE
“Their eyes were opened and they recognized [Jesus], and he disappeared from their sight.” Luke 24:31
BACKGROUND
When Carlotta was young, she thought her mother had a remarkable gift for recognizing other people. But it was Carlotta who was remarkable. She had a rare condition called prosopagnosia. She couldn’t recognize or remember faces.
Shortly after Jesus’ resurrection, two disciples walking from Jerusalem seemed as if they had such a condition when they encountered someone they should have recognized.
The two were talking about the exciting news of the past few days (Luke 24:14), but the third person seemed unaware of the events. They gave Him a quick summary, only to be surprised as this unknown person (Jesus) “explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (v. 27).
Then Christ broke bread with them (v. 30)—something He’d done many times before. At that moment, “Their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight” (v. 31). They hurried back to Jerusalem to tell others (vv. 33-35).
Those disciples didn’t recognize Jesus when they were with Him, and they hadn’t recognized Him in the Old Testament—something they read often and thought they knew well. They needed Jesus to reveal Himself to them because they couldn’t see on their own.
We need that help too. Let’s ask God to open our eyes to see Jesus on the pages of the Bible and in our lives.
Matt Lucas
INSIGHT
In Luke 24, we see that despite Jesus’ promise to rise from the dead (9:22; 18:32-33), His disciples weren’t expecting His resurrection. Women went to the tomb with spices to anoint a decaying body (24:1), not to investigate whether Christ had risen.
Even after the women shared the angels’ announcement that Jesus had risen, the other disciples didn’t believe them (v. 11). And on the Emmaus road, even when Jesus Himself walked with two disciples, they didn’t recognize Him (vv. 13-16).
Only after Christ shares bread are their eyes opened (v. 31). By God’s grace, we can also see our need for Jesus and come to Him.
Monica La Rose
APPLICATION
When have you failed to recognize God’s presence in your life? Why do you think this happens?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“(The) disciples didn’t recognize Jesus when they were with Him, and they hadn’t recognized Him in the Old Testament—something they read often and thought they knew well. They needed Jesus to reveal Himself to them because they couldn’t see on their own.”
PR’s TAKE
“Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, love, and purity. “
Stanza from “Holy Holy Holy…”
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” 1Corinthians 13:12
PRAYER
“Dear Father, thank You for revealing Jesus to me so that I may follow Him.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“WE SHALL BEHOLD HIM”
The sky shall unfold
Preparing His entrance
The stars shall applaud Him
With thunders of praise
The sweet light in His eyes shall
Shall enhance those awaiting
And we shall behold Him
Then face to face
Oh, we shall behold Him
Yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His Glory
Oh, we shall behold Him
Yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face our Savior and Lord
And the angels shall sound
The shout of His coming
And the sleeping shall rise from
Their slumbering place
And those who remain shall
We shall be changed in a moment
And we shall behold Him
Then face to face
We shall behold Him
Oh yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His Glory
We shall behold Him
Oh yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face my Savior and Lord
