From Unseen to Undeniable

Beyond the Resurrection: From Unseen to Undeniable

Have you ever been so focused on your disappointment that you missed a miracle happening right beside you? Picture this: you're walking away from the greatest event in human history, discussing your shattered hopes, when a stranger joins your conversation. Little do you know that the stranger is the very person you thought was gone forever.

This is exactly what happened to two disciples on a dusty road to Emmaus, and their story reveals something profound about how we see Jesus today.

The Journey After Easter

I love Resurrection Sunday. I love thinking about Christmas, and then we come to Easter and the real gift of the Resurrection: Jesus being alive. But here's what we often miss: "it didn't end with the Resurrection. It wasn't like, ‘he’s alive, he's alive, and now let’s go back to our normal life’. No, everything changed in that moment."

For the next several weeks, I want to take you on a journey after the Resurrection, because while the Resurrection is incredible - it's the reason you and I live and breathe - the story doesn't end there. The journey of Christianity was radically changed, and you and I are here because of what happened in that little place in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago.

Two Disciples Walking in Darkness

Let me take you to Luke chapter 24, starting in verse 13, where we find an incredible story. "This is that very day. Two of them were going to a village named Emmaus." What day? Resurrection day! "About seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all the things that had happened."

These weren't two of the famous eleven disciples - Jesus had many more followers. In fact, 120 disciples would later gather in the upper room. But on this day, these two were walking home, discussing the events of Passover and the crucifixion.

Then something amazing happens. "While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them." Jesus asks them, "What's this conversation that you're holding with each other as you walk?"

Their response is priceless: Do you have no idea what has happened this weekend? What's wrong with you? Have you not been reading the papers? Have you not been following social media doing. Do you not know exactly what's happened?

The Shocking Truth About How They Saw Jesus

Here's where the story gets really interesting. In Luke 24:19, they describe Jesus as "concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet, mighty in deeds and words before God and all the people."

Wait - did you catch that? I thought these were disciples. I thought these were the people who followed Jesus, who knew Jesus. And in this moment, as they're going home, they meet Jesus. They don't know it's Jesus. Their eyes are covered, they're oblivious to what's going on. And they are now claiming Jesus was just a prophet

How quickly they forgot! "How quickly his own disciples forgot who he really was. You see, Jesus was not a prophet. He is the Messiah. And yet in this moment, his own disciples look at him and say, well, you know what? We thought he was the Christ, but I guess he's just a good prophet because he's dead."

They continued: "We had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. We had hoped that he would have accomplished that which he wanted to."

Walking in Darkness Despite Hearing the Truth

What's even more shocking is that these disciples had already heard the resurrection reports! Verse 22 “Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning.” They already knew the story that these women went to the tomb, and they said they saw an angel and that Jesus’ body was missing.

Peter and John had also gone to the tomb and confirmed it was empty, just as the women said. But these disciples on the road to Emmaus heard all these reports and decided, "I guess we're just gonna go home."

Think about this: Would you do that if you were a disciple of Jesus? Think about this moment, Jesus has been talking about over and over again, I'm going to die. And in three days I'm gonna rise again. Over and over again, something's going to happen. Over and over again. They've seen miracles, signs, and wonders... And he dies, and he's buried in the tomb. And the women go to the tomb, and they say they see the angel. The tomb is empty. Peter and John go. And these guys think, well, I guess I'm just going home.

The problem was clear: "the light was out, so they couldn't see Jesus as he was walking with them. They couldn't see him.”

When Jesus Opens Our Eyes

As they walked, Jesus explained everything to them. "Beginning with Moses and the prophets. He interpreted them all the Scriptures, the things concerning himself." The Word of God became flesh and was now speaking to them about himself, going through all the prophecies from Moses through Daniel, explaining why the Messiah had to die.

But even then, their eyes remained closed. It wasn't until they sat down for a meal that everything changed. "When he was at the table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were open."

"It's interesting to me. It took him going into the moment where he took the bread... every meal they would do the blessing of the bread... And he grabbed the bread as the head of the household and broke it, then they saw him.

The word Luke uses for their eyes being opened "is the same words used for a baby who's firstborn... when the baby is in the womb, it doesn't see... But then, when they are born, there's that first moment of the baby’s eyes seeing light; it’s incredible to see."

All of a sudden, they actually saw for the first time, like they had not seen all the years that they had been with him. They finally saw for the first time that he was better than they ever imagined.

The Problem with Our Vision Today

"I think so many of us are the same way. We see through a lens that is not clear. A lens where we can't truly see the truth of Jesus, the truth of who he is. He's not just a prophet. He's not just a good man, nor is he just a savior. He's also our Lord."

"The problem with Easter is that so many come to the cross and they sing about he's alive, but they have no life that shows he's alive because they don't see clearly. They're still in the dark, just like those disciples were on the road to Emmaus."

Walking as Children of Light

Throughout the New Testament, we're reminded that "you and I were once in darkness. We were once at war with light. We were once ones that walked around aimlessly." But in Ephesians 5, Paul writes: "For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord."

"Why are you confused? Why are you in chaos? Why are you wondering what's going on? If you are really in the light, if Jesus is walking alongside of you, do you acknowledge that Jesus is walking alongside of you? Or do you have to wait for him to walk with you on the whole journey before you finally see, oh, Jesus is there."

More Than a Bus Ticket to Heaven

"The resurrection is not just a one-way ticket to heaven. It's not just this moment that, okay, cool. I just can't wait till I die. Because once I die, I get to spend eternity... No, he came that I might have a life and a life more abundant. He came that I might be the light of the world."

"The resurrection was not about me getting the bus ticket to heaven... God wants to be with you in a relationship with you. The resurrection was His way of saying, ‘I want to walk with you. I want to reveal to you. I want you to see things clearly. I want you to be able to look into every situation and know that I'm there for you.’

"The disciples on the road to Emmaus is a story of so many Christians. Because we get to the point where we've made Jesus into our own image. We've made Jesus into that which we desire him to be, that which we want him to be."

Putting It Into Practice: Where Are You on the Road?

The resurrection brought revelation. This revelation is God’s desire to show us what He desires to do in us and through us - we need to ask ourselves some honest questions.

Examine Your Current View of Jesus. "My challenge to you is to ask yourself, do I see clearly? Am I on that road to Emmaus? Have I left Jerusalem? Have I left the excitement and just headed home, because I'm comfortable where I'm at?"

Ask for Revelation, "Jesus, would you bring a Revelation into me? Would you reveal to me, once more, who you are? Where deep down inside me, let me know exactly who you are. That you are not only a savior, but you are also my Lord. That you're my guide, you're my friend, you are there."

Choose to See Him Clearly. Don't be like those disciples who downgraded Jesus from Messiah to prophet. "They still believed he was a great man. They still believed in the deeds. They still believed he was anointed by God. But they lost the truth of who he was."

The story of the road to Emmaus isn't just ancient history - it's happening today. The question is: when Jesus walks alongside you, do you recognize Him? Or are you still walking in darkness, missing the miracle happening right beside you?

Jesus is more than a prophet, more than a good teacher, more than just your ticket to heaven. He's your Lord, your guide, your everything. And He's walking with you right now, ready to open your eyes to see Him as He truly is.