What prevents us from seeing Jesus, as in Luke 24:15? Opening moment on the Emmaus road Luke 24:15–16 says, “And as they talked and deliberated, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.” What blocked their sight that day? – Divine restraint: God, for His own purposes, “kept” them from recognizing Jesus until the right moment (v. 31). – Overwhelming grief: their hope for a political Messiah had been crushed (v. 17). Emotional fog blurs spiritual vision. – Misaligned expectations: they “had hoped that He was the One to redeem Israel” (v. 21). When God’s plan differs from ours, we often miss what is right in front of us. How the same barriers work on us 1. Unbelief – 2 Corinthians 4:4: “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers…” – John 20:29 reminds us that faith precedes sight, not the other way around. 2. Preoccupation with circumstances – Like Martha in Luke 10:40, we can be “distracted with much serving,” eyes on duties rather than on Jesus. 3. Disappointment with God’s timing – Proverbs 13:12: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” A sick heart lowers spiritual sightlines. 4. Sin left unconfessed – Psalm 66:18: “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Sin clouds fellowship and therefore perception. 5. Limited Scripture intake – The two disciples knew the Scriptures but had not pieced them together (Luke 24:25-27). Neglecting God’s Word starves discernment. Clearing the vision • Believe what God has already said. Jesus rebuked them, “O foolish ones… slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” (v. 25). • Invite Him to stay. Their simple request, “Stay with us” (v. 29), led to opened eyes (v. 31). • Let Scripture interpret experience. Jesus began “with Moses and all the Prophets” (v. 27), aligning their expectations with written truth. • Shed the weight. Hebrews 12:1-2 calls us to “lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles… fixing our eyes on Jesus.” • Walk in obedient faith; sight follows. John 14:21 promises that those who obey will be shown more of Christ. Living with eyes wide open – Start each day in the Word; let Him frame reality before circumstances do. – Cultivate thankful remembrance of past faithfulness; gratitude sharpens focus. – Surrender unmet expectations; His plan is better than ours. – Keep short accounts with God; confessed sin restores clarity. – Stay in fellowship with other believers; they, like the Emmaus pair, can testify, “Were not our hearts burning within us… while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (v. 32). When these barriers fall, the risen Lord who already walks beside us becomes wonderfully visible, and our hearts, like theirs, ignite with fresh joy. |
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