The Way to Follow Jesus According to the Gospel of LukeSample

Day 23 - Luke 24:1-34

Expectation

“Suddenly their eyes were opened and they recognized Him.”

Jesus was raised from the dead! He’s alive and appearing to His disciples.

He unexpectedly showed up to two of His disciples as they were walking to Emmaus.

Filled with grief, confusion and disillusionment, they were unable to “see” beyond their circumstances. They believed Jesus, their Master and supposed Messiah, was dead and there was no reason to “expect” anything different.

But Jesus initiated the encounter and unexpectedly broke in on their lives to reveal Himself. You can imagine the shock and awe as they witnessed the reality of a previously dead corpse taking on life again. Jesus is alive!

Maybe they wouldn’t have been so shocked had they believed what Jesus said about His death and resurrection. Instead they would have an expectation that they would see Him again. But they were so preoccupied trying to sort it all out, that they couldn’t recognize Jesus at His appearance.

We too can be so preoccupied by the circumstances around us, that it is hard to recognize Jesus. If we don’t really expect to see Him, we won’t.

But Jesus is present and He does want your attention. And if you’re on the lookout for Him, He can and will show up and reveal Himself to you. When He does, then just like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, your heart will burn for more of Him.

How can you refocus your attention so that you’re expecting to see Jesus?