DO YOU RECOGNIZE JESUS AS THE RISEN CHRIST?

Have you ever met someone you haven’t seen for a long time and not recognized that person? When we haven’t been around Jesus for some time—in His Word, in prayer, in His presence—we may not recognize Him when we at long last we’re confronted by Him. May it not be so with you.

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES          by Sally Bair

Recognition

I recently spent twenty minutes outside the grocery store visiting with a friend whom I hadn’t seen for a couple of years. When I asked her a question about her past, she looked puzzled but shrugged her shoulders, dismissed my inquiry and resumed our talk. We set a coffee date and went on our way. Imagine my utter embarrassment when I later realized I had been visiting—at length—with someone other than I thought.

After Jesus rose from the grave, He met His disciples on the road to Emmaus, “But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.” (Luke 24:16) He questioned them. Not recognizing Jesus, they told this “stranger” all about “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word ….” (verse 19) They told Him about His crucifixion and how they had hoped He would save Israel from tyrannical rule. They also had hoped to see Him as proof of His resurrection.

Only after long conversation with Him, followed by the sharing of a meal with Him, were their eyes opened and they saw Him as the risen Christ.

At times we also do not recognize Jesus. Like me with my friend or the disciples with a supposed stranger, we may not see Him as the One who conquered death through His resurrection so we might have life with Him now and forever. What blinds our eyes to His presence? Are we so busy we miss the love and mercy He gives us so generously each day, each moment? Do other people take His place in our thoughts and actions? Or do things? Or activities? Are we so busy we don’t have time for Him?

Recognition requires constant fellowship and trust. The disciples’ unmet expectations of Jesus as an earthly savior blinded their eyes to the One who is the eternal Savior. Once He opened their eyes to His supernatural presence, they recognized Him as the risen—and promised—Christ who would never let them down, who would bring them His perfect peace.

Lord, thank You for being the risen Christ Who offers us redemption from our sins and life everlasting. Cause us to recognize You as such through Your Word and Spirit each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.