Only a stranger

 "And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.   And they talked together of all these things which had happened.   And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.   But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.   And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?   And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?"     Luke 24: 13-18

As the two walked to Emmaus, their thoughts and conversation were focused on what had just happened. They were sad and confused. They were so caught up on the events that had just taken place that when Jesus waked and talked with them, they didn't know it was him. They assumed he was some stranger. Now I understand that the Bible says "But their eyes were holden that they should not know him." But it got me thinking about how this applies to us now. The passage continues:

"And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:   And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.   But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.   Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;   And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.   And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.   Then said he unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:   Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?   And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."     Luke 24: 19-27

They were set on what they thought would happen that they had forgotten what the prophesies had said would happen. They were so disappointed and distracted that they forgot everything that the scriptures foretold about Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and lost faith when it happened the way God had planned for it to happen and not the way they wanted it to happen. 

How many times do we walk with our Savior in sweet fellowship and in awe of him and what he can do but at the first sign of hardship or at the first shiny thing that comes along to distract us do we get sucked in to whatever it may be and then wonder why God didn't do what we thought he was going to do? We wonder why he left us alone. We become sad and discouraged, maybe even depressed because we thought we knew what the plan was. We forget what the Bible says about what we're going through or the warnings about the things that so easily grab for our attention and affection. We get so consumed by what's going on or how we feel. 

Sometimes I wonder, if like the two on the road to Emmaus, the Savior walks right beside us and the Holy Spirit starts speaking to us but our eyes are too blinded by situations, circumstances, emotions, etc. that we don't recognize him, or his voice. Instead we treat him like a stranger who has no idea what's going on or what we're going through. Or we're so wrapped up in the latest and greatest thing that we tune him out. Our prayer time becomes less and less and our Bible reading becomes a quick skim to ease our conscience and we don't really get anything out of it. We're so busy with our to-do lists and achievements we don't have time to give God the worship he deserves. We wonder why life is so hard and why God abandoned us and why things aren't going the way we think they should.

"And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would gave gone further.   But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.   And it came to pass, as he sat at the table with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.   And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.   And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?   And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,   Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.   And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in the breaking of bread." Luke 24: 28-35

At the end of their journey, they invited Jesus into their home and they sat at the table to eat. When Jesus blessed and brake the bread and gave it to them, they realized who he was. They then realized why his words had such an affect on them then they got up right away, went back to Jerusalem, and told everyone the good news and what had just happened to them.

In the midst of whatever it is we're caught up in, do we invite Christ into our home, or do we let him continue on? Do we take the time to sit down with him and let him reveal himself to us and open our eyes to the truth? Do our hearts burn within us when we read and hear the word of God? Are we so impacted by Christ and what he has shown us and done for us that we would take the time to tell others about it even if it's seemingly inconvenient? Are we walking life's road in sweet fellowship with our Savior, getting to know him better?

Or is Jesus only a stranger?