Warriors Arise: June 21st, 2020
Luke 24:30-31 (NKJV) 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.
Something happens after the "then". Not only should we be expecting a "then" when life is in a chaotic state but we should be looking for what comes after the "then." Keep in mind these two disciples had a full day of extraordinary things happening. Why not one more?! The morning started with Mary Magdalene, Mary, and Salome returning from the tomb proclaiming Jesus is alive! Then the angel told them to give message to the disciples and Peter: "Jesus will meet them in Galilee." Then Mary Magdalene returns a second time from the tomb and two angels have spoken to her! If that wasn't enough, Jesus is standing there when she turns around. Jesus speaks to her and when He calls her name, "Mary" she recognizes Him. That is quite a day of happenings!
Now, without having recognized Jesus, He walked with them to Emmaus, rebuked them, taught them of Moses and the Prophets, they constrained Him from continuing on when they said, "Abide with us". After supper preparations they all sit at the table. Jesus took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
"Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him..." according to my study Bible, the word opened means to open. It wasn't that these two disciples were blind. They just couldn't see Who had been walking with them, teaching them, or gave them bread.
Have you ever been looking for something, and you search everywhere; high and low, inside pockets, bags, cupholder, under seats, in couch cushions. You have searched everywhere. You know it was right there! But the situation got the best of you. When you were looking directly where they were, your mind was occupied. You were not blind for a moment but because your mind was occupied you could not see what was right in front of your face. Not until your mind returned to being calm, at peace, the frustration seeping out of you were you able to see what had been right in front of you the entire time. I generally, say, "Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus!" I grab what I finally saw and leave. I used to get so bent out of shape when this happened. I know now Jesus helped me calm my mind so that I can see what I am looking for. I might as well give Him credit or I might not have had eyes open to see!
I do not want to be too hard on these two disciples. They definitely had a lot on their minds. It had been quite a day and their minds were stretched to believe all they had heard from the first time the three women came heralding that Jesus is alive to this Man who is handing them bread just like someone else they had known.
If Jesus had wanted them to recognize Him then I believe He would have revealed Himself earlier. He reminded them of so many things from the feeding of the 5,000 to the last supper. They were to remember Jesus every time they broke bread.
According to my study Bible, the word "opened" when used of the eyes and heart, it means to make understanding possible. Remember Jesus rebuked these two disciples for n about Jesus being alive. They don't know what to think believe the women's declaration: "Jesus is alive." He said, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe...". When Jesus opened their eyes, it wasn't just their physical eyes. They were not blind. They could see but they were not seeing Him. They were not understanding what had happened that day.
Jesus opened their eyes to see Him, to understand what He had taught them on the road to their house. Jesus wanted them to understand; because they needed to believe the truth. They needed to know Him. This knowing is not having knowledge of someone but it is being in their circle, having your own conversation and spending time with them.
Father, I ask for You to open my eyes to see You. I want to see You in my life. You do so many things to protect me, guide me, counsel me, get me out of tight spots. You encourage me to keep doing the right thing, taking care of myself and serving others. I ask for You to continue to teach me. I want a tangible, inner circle friendship with You. There are so many people who are devastated by the coronavirus and the stress of the riots. I pray You would walk with them, teach them, open their eyes to see Your involvement. I pray You would make known Your protection for their lives. I pray You would extend Your love that will set the captives free. I pray You would give them eyes to see. Believers have testified of Your goodness, faithfulness, and strength. They need You to walk with them, they need a personal experience with You. I pray You would walk with each one. I ask for the blinders to be taken off in Jesus' name and for their eyes to see You. I ask for each one to see how You have protected them even when they didn't ask You. I ask for each one to see how You have guided them out of chaos when they didn't know what to do. I ask for each one to see where You have been right beside them through this pandemic and rioting. I pray for Jesus to reveal the truth of His love, mercy and compassion for each one in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
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