The Unseen Jesus
There is an ongoing debate in our household regarding which holiday is the best. Some cast their votes for Christmas and the celebration of Christ’s birth. Others love Good Friday, remembering Jesus’ sacrifice that purchased so many benefits for believers. As for me, I am on team Easter every year! Resurrection Day affirmed all that the ancient prophets foretold and verified everything Jesus said about Himself. Neither Christmas nor Good Friday would even mark our calendars without the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection.
Resurrection Day was not what anyone expected. It was full of surprises. Unlike His birth, the sky did not explode in praise from innumerable hosts of heaven. There was no shining light on the garden tomb like the star over the manger. Instead, morning broke quietly as our savior Jesus breathed in resurrection life and rose from the place where His body had been lying in the grave.
That same day, two disciples were walking to Emmaus. One of them was Cleopas, the husband of Mary’s sister, an uncle of Jesus (John 19:25). He had the unique advantage of watching Jesus grow from a baby to become the man who turned society upside down. He was both family and follower, and would have been intimately acquainted with Jesus. But as he walked along the road that day, neither he nor his companion had any idea that Jesus was walking with them.
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. (Luke 24:13-16 NIV)
They were travelling away from Jerusalem, perhaps hoping to leave their disappointment behind them. When Jesus joined them, they did not recognize Him and thought He was a random stranger. Jesus began walking and talking with them, explaining the prophecies about Himself in Scripture. They were drawn to Jesus and hung on every word. When they got close to Emmaus, Jesus acted like He was going to journey on farther, but Cleopas and his companion didn’t want Jesus to leave.
“Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 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, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem … Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. (Luke 24:29-35 NIV)
Jesus also appeared to the women at His tomb, the apostles gathered in the upper room, and, according to the apostle Paul, to more than 500 people at once (Mark 16, Acts 1, 1 Cor. 15:6). The validity of Christ’s resurrection assures us that our hope in Him is secure. Our faith is not futile, death and sin are defeated, those who have preceded us in death are not lost, and we are people of hope and rejoicing!
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:17-20 NIV, emphasis mine)
Today’s blog comes in the middle of “Holy Week.” While the days leading up to Jesus’ triumphant resurrection were filled with anguish, the story does not end in sorrow, but in victory! I pray that our eyes would be opened and our hearts ignited within us as we remember the truth of the gospel: Jesus is not in the grave—He has indeed risen! May we burn with the knowledge that Emmanuel still seeks those who will walk with Him, welcome His presence, and recognize Him as He reveals Himself along the way.
Portions of today’s blog are adapted from Amanda’s book, Lord, I Want To See, available from westbowpress.com, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.