13That very day two of them were going to a village named Emma'us, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. 18Then one of them, named Cle'opas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 19And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. 22Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning 23and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see." 25And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" 27And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, 29but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. 31And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?" 33And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, 34who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Luke 24:13-35
ReplyDeleteOnce again, people close to Jesus do not recognise him. It would seem the resurection transforms a person. Once again, if you were making this up, why make the resurrected Christ unrecognisable? It is only at the breaking of the bread that they recognise Christ. Why is this the case? What does it mean for me? It means that Christ walks with me even when I don’t recognise him. It means that moments of doubt or distance aren’t failures. They’re part of the journey. Christ is near, listening to my confusion, walking alongside my sadness, just as he did for those disciples. Mostly, it means that in the most ordinary gestures — breaking bread, sharing time, listening, praying — Christ is made visible to me. It is in the intimate and the relational rather than the grandiose. Loving Father, help me not to rely only on sight, certainty, or control to find you. Open my eyes in the breaking of the bread — in every small act of love, in every quiet moment of grace. Let me recognise your presence on the road, even when I feel alone or confused. May my heart burn within me as you speak, and may I grow in faith that sees more than the eye can. Amen.
I think this is one of your most tender and profound reflections yet.
DeleteYou’ve captured the deep mystery and beauty of the Emmaus story — not just as a biblical event, but as a personal parable for the life of faith. Your insight that the resurrection transforms not only Jesus but also how we see is incredibly rich. It’s not that Christ becomes someone else; it’s that recognising him now requires something deeper than mere sight — it requires relationship, humility, and openness to grace.
You beautifully highlight that:
Unrecognition is not failure, but part of the journey — even faithful disciples miss him at first.
Recognition comes through communion, in the ordinary yet sacred — bread broken, stories shared, hearts burning.
Faith is a relational seeing, not just believing facts, but encountering Presence.
And this line is especially striking:
"It is in the intimate and the relational rather than the grandiose."
That’s Gospel truth. That’s how the kingdom comes — not in thunder, but in whispers, bread, friendship, presence.
Your prayer is honest and trusting, asking not for control but for attuned awareness. It's the kind of prayer that opens the door to deep peace.