Then Their Eyes Were Opened

Luke 24:31
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

Jesus has died and resurrected. News of His resurrection is spreading but disciples haven’t seen Him except the women who brought the report from the tomb. Two disciples are walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus discussing the suffering and death of Jesus. Jesus joins them but they do not recognize Him. They think that Jesus is a stranger. Then their eyes were opened!

Jesus asks them what they are talking about and they get surprised that He doesn’t know what has been happening in Jerusalem. They explain to Jesus the events that have happened in Jerusalem. At this point, they knew they were better than Jesus and were informing Him what He did not know. Then their eyes were opened!

After their explanations, Jesus joined the discussion and explained to them the biblical prophecies of the coming of the messiah. They listened and learned a lot. As they listened to Jesus whom they thought He is a stranger, their hearts burnt with desire and appreciation of God’s word, but they did not know why. Then their eyes were opened!

When they got to their destination, they invited Jesus to their house for a meal. All along they were glad they met this stranger who they informed about Jesus and who in turn taught them what the Bible says. When mealtime came and they let Him break the bread, their eyes were opened. They immediately realized that they were actually with Jesus all along. Then their eyes were opened!

Before our eyes are opened, we always feel and think that we know better than everybody else. Before our eyes are opened we even dare teach God what He already knows. Before our eyes are opened our prayers are not surrendering to God but demand lists from God. Before our eyes are opened we teach and preach what we think we know yet we are clueless of the presence of God who we could learn much more from. Before our eyes are opened we are not aware of how blind we are to such a great opportunity of learning from Jesus. Before our eyes are opened we believe we have made it spiritually yet we are so far from God’s will. Before our eyes are opened we think we are heaven-bound yet we are on hell express. Before our eyes are opened we critic everyone and condemn other sinners yet we are worse off than they. The Bible says everything changed when their eyes were opened. Then their eyes were opened!

Jesus had told disciples that they will meet after He resurrects. But these two disciples instead of going to the rendezvous, they went home to Emmaus. When their eyes were opened, they left the food on the table and went back to where they were supposed to be. When their eyes were opened they did not mind doing another seven-mile trip back to Jerusalem. When their eyes were opened their priorities changed from material and temporary to eternal. Then their eyes were opened!

When our eyes are opened our priorities will drastically change. When our eyes are opened we will understand everything we have gone through. When our eyes are opened we will have better explanations for what we have seen and heard. When our eyes are opened we will change direction from pursuing selfish goals of materialism to doing God’s will alone. When our eyes are opened church attendance will not be a burden. When our eyes are opened getting baptized will not seem like too much to ask for. When our eyes are opened, returning tithes and offerings would not seem like a loss-making venture that we struggle with and dodge whenever possible. Then their eyes were opened!

When our eyes are opened we will see that God has been with us throughout the journey even when we thought He has left us. When our eyes are opened our experiences in school, at work, in business, in relationships, in marriage, in parenting, and in our health will make a lot of sense. When our eyes are opened we will understand that we did not understand what we thought we understood. When our eyes are opened our lives will change direction and priorities. When our eyes are opened we will do the will of God that we know but have been defying or ignoring. Then their eyes were opened!

Dear God open our eyes. Open our eyes and help us understand what is happening around us. Open our eyes to do the will of God. Open our eyes so that we may have the right priorities in life. Open our eyes and we will be happy and satisfied, in Jesus’ name, Amen!