What we believe and what we say we believe can be two different things. We say we trust God, but the worry and fear we struggle with says we don't - at least not as much as we say we do. We say we believe God's divine Word, yet we do not always obey it or seek guidance from it. We ask for God to intervene and "do" something, ignoring the fact He is working through that situation to accomplish plans we know nothing about. We are a funny bunch who desperately need Jesus to open our eyes and provide understanding of God's Word so we might know Him.
The disciples of Jesus mourned His death on Calvary. They had believed He was the promised Messiah, but His death was an unexpected and shocking end to the dream Jesus would someday sit on a throne. From our vantage point with the benefit of the historical account we might smirk at the women finding the tomb empty, the apostles not believing their testimony, or the morose disciples trudging 7 miles to Emmaus. Ah, ye of little faith - coupled with ignorance of the Law, prophets, and Psalms we might say to ourselves. But are we any wiser, stronger, or spiritually savvy? Nope.
In Luke 24 there is an insightful portrayal of the disciples sadly walking to Emmaus mourning their deceased sovereign when He met them in the flesh on the road. They didn't even realise it was Jesus with whom they conversed. It was only as they ate a meal together the veil of ignorance was peeled away in Luke 24:30-31: "Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight." Their eyes were open during the whole walk and as they conversed and ate with one another: it took Jesus opening their eyes so they were enabled to recognise and know Him.
Praise the LORD Jesus opens the eyes of the blind - and the eyes of ignorant, senseless, and unbelieving believers as well. He opens our eyes, not just so we can rattle off facts, but so we might know Him. After their eyes were opened the disciples rushed 7 miles back to Jerusalem to share the awesome news and confirm the resurrection of Christ Jesus. This moves to a second purpose of their eyes being opened: that they might know Him and make Him known to others. Too often we can limit the context of sharing Christ to people who are unbelievers, but believers need a revelation of Jesus as well. Suddenly Jesus stood in the midst of the amazed believers in Jerusalem, and they could hardly believe for joy.
May God open our eyes so we might know Him and make Him known. Then we will live in light of the reality of His life and the power of His resurrection.
The disciples of Jesus mourned His death on Calvary. They had believed He was the promised Messiah, but His death was an unexpected and shocking end to the dream Jesus would someday sit on a throne. From our vantage point with the benefit of the historical account we might smirk at the women finding the tomb empty, the apostles not believing their testimony, or the morose disciples trudging 7 miles to Emmaus. Ah, ye of little faith - coupled with ignorance of the Law, prophets, and Psalms we might say to ourselves. But are we any wiser, stronger, or spiritually savvy? Nope.
In Luke 24 there is an insightful portrayal of the disciples sadly walking to Emmaus mourning their deceased sovereign when He met them in the flesh on the road. They didn't even realise it was Jesus with whom they conversed. It was only as they ate a meal together the veil of ignorance was peeled away in Luke 24:30-31: "Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight." Their eyes were open during the whole walk and as they conversed and ate with one another: it took Jesus opening their eyes so they were enabled to recognise and know Him.
Praise the LORD Jesus opens the eyes of the blind - and the eyes of ignorant, senseless, and unbelieving believers as well. He opens our eyes, not just so we can rattle off facts, but so we might know Him. After their eyes were opened the disciples rushed 7 miles back to Jerusalem to share the awesome news and confirm the resurrection of Christ Jesus. This moves to a second purpose of their eyes being opened: that they might know Him and make Him known to others. Too often we can limit the context of sharing Christ to people who are unbelievers, but believers need a revelation of Jesus as well. Suddenly Jesus stood in the midst of the amazed believers in Jerusalem, and they could hardly believe for joy.
May God open our eyes so we might know Him and make Him known. Then we will live in light of the reality of His life and the power of His resurrection.
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