In the days after his resurrection, there were many sightings of Jesus.
The story that moves me happened on the road to Emmaus. Two disciples are walking along and Jesus joins them. The Bible says “..but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” (Luke 24:16).
Either Jesus was unrecognizable or the disciples were not anticipating him looking for him, confused by the rumors of him having risen. Then they ate with him, recognized him and were overjoyed.
It’s easy to think, by the word ‘kept‘, their lack of recognizing was foisted upon them by an outside will, as though they weren’t meant to recognize him.
A thought…
Ever run into someone you know, out of context, and you forget his or her name? You don’t remember because you were surprised by them showing up in a far away city or business or church that you’ve not associated with them?
It is not difficult to think of these two people, commiserating with each other over a friend they lost to a horrible death, walking along a road and deep in discussion.
A man joins them but they’re so absorbed by grief they don’t recognize him. Their own perceptions ‘keep‘ them from seeing.
Every day we see and don’t see, depending on what we’re looking for.
May this resurrection season enable you to see with new eyes and recognize Love walking beside you.
The featured image is by Elia Pellegrini on Unsplash and we are grateful for his generosity.
New Eyes was originally published in Roy Salmond’s excellent newsletter – Between the Notes. It is published here by request for Cultivating and The Cultivating Project with his gracious permission.
Roy Salmond is a record producer, working out of his studio Whitewater Productions in Vancouver Canada. He’s also an itinerant worship leader, speaker and writer, penning the weekly arts and faith blog: Between The Notes.
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One of my most sincere prayers over the years, Roy, has been for clear eyes—ones unclouded by fear, distrust, insecurity guilt and the many other deceptions the enemy uses to cause us to walk blind to the truth of that Love that is with us! Thanks for the call to look and recognize His nearness!