WHY WE DON’T SEE THE LORD: LUKE 24:13-35
"Jesus himself began walking with them, but they were
blinded and could not recognize Him" (Luke 24:15-16 ELT).
Busy on our journey. "Two of them went that same day (Sunday) to a village called Emmaus" (24:13).
Concerned about home. "They drew nigh unto the village, whither they went" (24:28).
Involved with friends. "And they talked together of all those things which had happened" (24:14).
Fascinated with current events. "Art thou only a stranger . . . and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?" (24:18).
Broken dreams. "We had trusted that it had been He (Christ) which should have redeemed Israel" (24:21).
Caught up in passing time. "Beside all this, today is the third day since those things were done?" (24:21).
Listening to rumors. "Some women from our group were at His tomb early this morning and they came back with an amazing report. They said His body was missing . . . some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, Jesus’ body was gone" (24:22-24 LB).
HOW JESUS MAKES US SEE
"And their eyes were opened, and they knew him" Luke 24:31
Shows us our unbelief, which is the cause of blindness. "How foolish you are, and slow of heart to believe" (24:25 NIV). "The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not" (II Cor. 4:3).
Remind us of the gospel. "Ought Christ to have suffered these things, and into enter his glory" (24:26).
Point us to the scriptures. "And beginning at Moses, and the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself" (24:27).
Brings us to a point of decision. "They drew nigh unto the village, whither they went, and he made as though he would have gone further" (24:28).
We spend time with Him. "They constrained him, saying, abide with us . . . and he went in to tarry with them" (24:29).
We talked to Him. "Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked with us by the way" (24:32).
We have intimate fellowship with Him. The Communion Table is the highest symbol of our fellowship with Christ. While this was not the Lord’s Table, it symbolizes what He does. "He took bread, and blessed it, and break, and gave to them, and their eyes were opened" (24:30,31).
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER WE SEE HIM?
"They said one to another, did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scripture" (Luke 24:32).
We absolutely know Jesus. "Their eyes were opened, and they knew him" (24:31).
Our hearts respond emotionally. "Did not our hearts burn within us" (24:32).
We understand the Scriptures. "While he opened to us the scriptures" (24:32).
We respond in action. "They rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem" (24:33).
We seek fellowship with other believers. "And found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them" (24:33).
We tell others our knowledge of Christ. "And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread" (24:35).
We must be faithful even when others don’t believe us. "He appeared in another form unto two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them" (Mark 16:12, 13).
To get Dr. Towns’ Home Page for books, www.elmertowns.com.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.eduand tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
