Introduction

Good morning, dear friends. I am glad to see you all here today. It's a fine day, isn't it? A day filled with promise. A day that reminds us of the hope we have in the Lord.

I am reminded of a quote by Alister McGrath, who once said, "Within each of us exists the image of God, however disfigured and corrupted by sin it may presently be. God is able to recover this image through grace as we are conformed to Christ." We’re going to be talking about recognizing God and how this grace works.

Today, we will be looking at the book of Luke, chapter 24, verse 31. Let me read that for you. It says,

"Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight."

This is a simple yet powerful passage. It speaks of a moment of revelation. A moment when the disciples recognized Jesus after His resurrection.

We will be talking about recognition today. Recognition of our Lord and Savior. We will be talking about grace. The grace that God bestows upon us when we look upon Him. And we will be talking about meaning. The meaning that we find in those moments when we truly see God.

Before we begin, let us bow our heads in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, we come before You today with open hearts and open minds. We ask that You guide us as we seek to understand Your word. Help us to recognize You in our lives. Show us Your grace and help us find meaning in our relationship with You. We ask this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Now, let's get started.

Recognition's Revelation

When we read the passage from Luke, we see a moment of revelation. The disciples' eyes were opened, and they recognized Jesus. This recognition was not just about identifying Jesus physically. It was about understanding who He was and what He represented. It was about acknowledging His divinity and His role as the Savior. This recognition brought about a profound change in the disciples. It transformed their understanding, their faith, and their lives.

Not immediate: It came after a period of confusion and doubt. The disciples had seen Jesus crucified and buried. They had lost hope. But then, they encountered Jesus again. At first, they did not recognize Him. They did not expect to see Him alive. But when they finally recognized Him, their hope was restored. Their faith was strengthened. They were filled with joy and awe.

For all of us: We all have moments when we fail to recognize Jesus in our lives. We get caught up in our problems and worries. We feel lost and hopeless. But Jesus is always there. He is always ready to reveal Himself to us. All we need to do is open our eyes and recognize Him.

It’s about understanding: It is about knowing Jesus personally. It is about having a relationship with Him. When we recognize Jesus, we acknowledge His presence in our lives. We accept His love and grace. We commit to following His teachings. This recognition brings us closer to Jesus. It deepens our faith. It gives us hope and peace.

A communal experience: When we recognize Jesus, we join a community of believers. We share our faith and our experiences. We support each other in our spiritual journey. We celebrate our recognition of Jesus together. This recognition strengthens our bond as a community. It unites us in our faith. It brings us together in love and fellowship.

It’s a process: It is a journey of faith. It involves moments of doubt and confusion. It involves moments of revelation and joy. It involves moments of struggle and moments of triumph. This recognition shapes our faith. It shapes our relationship with Jesus. It shapes our lives.

It’s about the present and the future: It is about recognizing Jesus in our daily lives. It is about seeing His hand in our experiences. It is about acknowledging His presence in our joys and sorrows. This recognition helps us to live our faith. It helps us to trust in Jesus. It helps us to find hope and peace in Him.

God's Gaze

As we immerse ourselves in the divine narrative, we find ourselves in the company of the disciples on the road to Emmaus ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO