Welcome to today's reading and blog! The story continues from Luke 24: "25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
In 23 years of being a pastor I cannot remember ever preaching on this text until last Sunday! It always bothered me a little! I think the part that bothered me was the idea that Jesus seemed to prevent the two guys from recognizing Him until the time was right and the right time was when they started eating.
Why?
Why? That has always been my big question.
As I wrestled with this all last week I realized I was not allowing God to be God in the story. When God hides himself it irritates me. The whole journey of preparing the message and then preaching on Sunday was God humbling me to let Him be God. I think the click point came for me as I was preaching for the second time and some things began to make more sense.
God was calling me to trust Him in this story and in my story that when He "hides" himself from me it is for my good. When He reveals himself in a way I didn't expect and can't control it is for my good. He is a good father in heaven.
When the two guys were able to recognize Jesus it was at the opportune time for their journey of faith and the time leading up to that full of confusion and angst was not wasted - God was using that time as well to create a hunger for Him and an understanding of Him and His story that would "burn in their hearts"!
I get to remember He is God even when He seems hidden and that He is still working in me and through me and when His timing is right - I will see what He leads me to see!
He is a good Father in Heaven!
delton