Warriors Arise: June 19th, 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.
"Then their eyes were opened..." The sentence doesn't stop there but we need to check this out. Then is a transitional word. Something was taking place, generally normalcy changes, something unexpected ia occuring. We need a "then" to happen today.
These two disciples thought things were normal. A man joined them on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They share current events with the man, the man says a few things that are insulting but He is genuine in teaching them of Moses and the Prophets. Once they reach Emmaus they invite the man to stay with them since evening upon them. Time has passed as the evening meal is being prepared. The man sat at the table with them. He took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to them.
I am not sure where I got it but during college I made a sign to put up on my wall, "Change isn't change until something changes." What changed for these two disciples? What was their "then"?
Jesus rebuked them on the road, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe" and they did not see Him.
Jesus taught them on the road but their eyes did not open.
Jesus sat at the table with them and they did not recognize Him.
Jesus took the bread and they did not think anything of it. He had been teaching them. He was given a place of honor.
Jesus blessed and broke the bread just as these two disciples had seen done in the past. It was custom for the Jews.
What was their "then"?
In my mind, I see Jesus give each of these two disciples the bread. He looks directly into their eyes and places the bread in their hands. His eyes penetrating into the very depths of the soul. He didn't just pass the bread; He gave it to them.
Jesus was intentionally giving them the bread. It was time for their "then." Something needed to change in their lives. While they were waiting for the meal to be prepared. These two disicples would have been sharing about the events that happened in Jerusalem that morning. I realize, we have taken quite while to get through these verses, but keep in mind this is the still the same day as when Mary Magdalene, Mary, and Salome went to the tomb to give Jesus a proper burial and found an angel instead. Not just any angel, but an angel who told them Jesus is alive! He will meet the disciples in Galilee and the women were to go tell the disciples and Peter the message. So much happened that day! These two disciples would have been telling everyone in the house what had happened. Along with what this man they brought into the home had shared with them about Moses and the Prophets. Jesus probably can't get their attention because when these two disciples are together they are talking all over each other, when they are in separate rooms they are each sharing what has amazed them about the day.
Finally, it is time for the meal and Jesus, who has shown Himself to be a teacher of the Word by the two disciple's testimony of all He shared on the road to Emmaus, take His takes the bread, broke and blessed it, and gave it to them. THEN something happens. Something had changed. Those eyes, looking into the them, His hands giving them the bread. The two disciples experienced their "then" and life it about to change for them.
Luke 22:19 (NKJV) Was it that they remembered, "Take eat, this My body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of Me."
Was it that they remembered, John 6:29-40 (NKJV) Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” 30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” 35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Maybe they remembered, John 6:47-51 (NKJV) Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
How many times did Jesus offer them bread and look into their eyes? Everything Jesus did was with intention. This would be no different. He would have looked directly into their eyes when He handed them the bread. It was time for their "then." It was time for change. Change would come when they recognized change had already taken place. It happened when Jesus died on the cross and was alive on Earth just as the Prophets foretold, the angels herald, and the women testified. Jesus is alive and right in front of them.
"Then," something has taken place and something needed to happen. Jesus is right there with the disciples, at their table, blessing, breaking bread, and handing it to them. We need a "then."
Father, I have been praying You would go and meet with all the people who have been and currently are infected with the coronavirus. I ask for people to recognize You to be in the room with them. I have asked for You to be with the researchers, giving them the formula for the antidote and vaccine. I have ask for You to walk with people in the streets during these protests. I have asked for You to reveal Yourself so they will know You are providing a way out of this pandemic and out of the evil rampant in the streets. I know many have recognized You before now and I celebrate their "then, their knowing You touched their lives and healed them, You led them off the streets when the riots started, You protected their business from looters. There are so many more who need their "then". They need something to change in their life. Our eyes can be open and we can still walk away from You but I am asking for each one to know You are with them, You are providing a way out, You will set their feet on the solid ground of the Word of God. I am ask for You to look into thier eyes, deep into their soul and for each one to have their God-encounter, their "then". It is time for change to happen. I pray they will embrace the change You offer 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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