February 8, 2007

“He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’” Luke 24:17. Shortly after the reports of Jesus rising from the dead begin circulating, two people are journeying to Emmaus, a village close by to Jerusalem. A stranger joins their walk, and inquires as to what they are discussing. We are let in on the secret that it is actually the risen Jesus who is this stranger, who is now walking with them.
But these two do not recognize Him. It is not clear why they do not recognize Him, so it is left up to the reader (and us!) to ponder what could have been going on in this situation. They might have been so despondent that they did not pay close attention to who was with them. Or perhaps they were so engrossed in their conversation that they did not notice who this man was. Or it could be that Jesus’ bodily appearance was different now that He had risen from the dead. Or possibly it was for some other reason, but this much we do know: they did not recognize Him. It says that, in response to the inquiry, that the men stood still and that their faces were downcast. They appeared to be depressed. Then, they began to tell Him about all the events that had recently transpired in Jerusalem, including the testimony of the women at Jesus’ tomb.
Jesus came along side of these men and journeyed with them for quite some time, and they did not even recognize Him! At first, I thought that this could not have been possible, but the more that I thought about it, the more that I realized that I could have done the same thing. In fact, it does not take me long to remember times when I did not even have a clue about Him being there. Oh, I know that God is always with us, no matter what, but I miss Him, for what ever reason. The fact is that I do not recognize that God is with me at all times, and, instead, I only see Him, or sense His presence, on brief and very occasional moments. And yet, He is with me (and you!) always! And I believe that He is interested in the things of our lives, such as, “What are you discussing. . .” Take some time today to reflect on God’s presence with you. How aware are you of His presence with you, in the midst of your present circumstances, through His Holy Spirit? Are you aware that He is just as interested in you and your life as He was with those people on the road to Emmaus? It is both a fearful thing and a wonderfully comforting thing to realize that He is journeying with us through each day.