Encounters with the Risen Savior - Opening Our Eyes

This is part of our Thursday series on the encounters that Risen Savior shared in the four gospels. Today’s encounter is shared with us by both Mark and Luke.

This encounter begins with two followers of Jesus walking down the seven mile stretch of road between Jerusalem and the village of Emmaus. Thanks to Luke we know that one of them was named Cleopas. He and the other traveler, possibly his wife or another disciple, were talking about everything that had happened. Luke describes what happened next like this in chapter 24 verses 15 through 17:

While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. And He said to them, ‘What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?’ And they stood still, looking sad.

Luke goes on to tell how the two travelers began explaining about Jesus and their hopes that He would redeem Israel, but that He had been crucified. They also shared how the women had reported that He was alive. Then Luke says in verses 25-27 that Jesus “said to them, ‘O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”

As they got to the village, the travelers asked Jesus to stay with them and in verses 30 through 35 Luke tells us that:

When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?’ And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, ‘The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.’ They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

​So like Mary Magdalene, these two travelers didn’t recognize Jesus right away, but here we are specifically told that “their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.” They were prevented the whole time they were traveling, but after arriving at their destination and sitting down to eat they saw Jesus break and bless the bread and then disappear. This is when their eyes were finally opened. This was probably a very familiar action that they had seen Jesus do before and it helped them recognize Him in that moment.


What are the things that you have seen Jesus do in your life? Are you keeping your eyes open for similar ways that He might be working, ways that might help you recognize His presence today? I pray that we would all have open eyes looking to encounter His presence in our lives today. Then when we do, let’s be like these two travelers who immediately turned back around and travelled seven more miles to go share about their encounter with the Risen Savior.