Seeing Jesus

“…he took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to them.”

by Katie Harding on April 18, 2022

One of my favorite Easter passages is about Cleopas and the other disciple on the Road to Emmaus as written in Luke 24:13-35. Every time I read it, I gain a different perspective. This time, I’m struck by the fact that when Jesus joined them in their discussion, “their eyes were kept from recognizing him.”

I can’t help but wonder if it was their feelings of despair that kept these two from seeing Jesus in their midst. They thought He was going to be the one to redeem Israel and restore the Kingdom of God. And although it was the third day and the tomb was empty, they didn’t see Him anywhere. When expectations don’t line up with reality, disappointment can often cloud our vision and keep us from seeing Jesus walking alongside us.

“When expectations don’t line up with reality, disappointment can often cloud our vision and keep us from seeing Jesus...”

Jesus knew they were “slow of heart to believe all the prophets have declared,” because when hearts feel heavy, it can be challenging to move quickly from places of pain. Through His insight, Jesus stoked fires of hope as “he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.” When we experience difficult times and turn to Jesus for truth, our hearts, too, can begin to feel as if they burn within us as they are reignited with hope.

Once their hearts were encouraged, Jesus revealed His identity to those He was with when “he took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to them.” With their hearts warmed and readied to receive, it revived their memory of Jesus’ past actions and gave instant clarity to this present one. “Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him…” Recalling Jesus at work in our past helps us to see Him in the present.

I remember a time years ago when I had lost hope because what I was going through was so painful. Yet, Jesus helped me to see Him the same way He helped those two on the road that day. He listened to my heart, spoke truth through the scriptures, and showed me where He was at work in my situation. Seeing Jesus didn’t immediately change my circumstances, but it changed me and changed my life. It filled me with hope, gave me a story to share, and helped to propel a new ministry called "NorthStar Women's Network" forward.

How has seeing Jesus made a difference in your life?