Luke 24:13-16, 30-31 “Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them, but they were kept from recognizing him….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…”
I have struggled for a long time with that phrase “…but they were kept from recognizing him.” Why would Jesus have hidden himself from them? Was he wearing a disguise or did his appearance change as a result of the resurrection? Clearly, from the reading about “Doubting Thomas”, the scars of crucifixion still marred his body. But these two travelers weren’t alone. Even Mary Magdalene, when she first encountered Jesus near the tomb, mistook him for the Gardener. So what is happening here?
Our eyes can play tricks on us; just ask any magician. Sight is just one of our senses, yet we tend to rely too much on it. Many times we fail to see things with our eyes until we feel them in our hearts. The object we are looking upon does not change in physical appearance, yet something about it is profoundly different. So it is with Christ.
In the resurrection, Christ was released again from the constraints of physical form. He ascended into heaven, but he also remains here with us. Allow me to add one simple word to this common greeting…
“The Lord be with[in] you!” “And also with[in] you!”
Jesus is reflected into the world through us; in our service to one another and to all those in need.
Throughout this Easter season, and beyond, share the presence of the risen lord by your actions in this world. Then others will truly “see and believe”.
In Christ,
David Krueger