We know the Lord never leaves or forsakes us, yet ever wonder how often He is near, and we fail to recognize Him?
Following Jesus’ release from the grave, we see two incidents on the same day where Jesus went unrecognized—at least at first.
It began with Mary Magdalene, who supposed Jesus to be the gardener (cf. John 20:15). Later that day, as the two walked the road to Emmaus, they thought Him to be a stranger (cf. Luke 24:18). Same day, in different places, but an identical obscured vision of Jesus.
There was a commonality between the two that resulted in Jesus being unrecognized: assumption and expectation. Mary Magdalene assumed He was the gardener; the two presumed he was a stranger in town—and neither expected to see Him, even though they may have heard the words of His fate. (Similar to knowing His words of “never leaving or forsaking” 😊).
It would be remiss of me not to mention an additional possibility experienced by the two on the road who didn’t recognize the Lord initially. Luke penned an “open” statement regarding it: “But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him” (Luke 24:16 NASB). Whether Luke was emphasizing their obscured sight or whether it was a divine “blindness” is conjecture. I think the first is most likely; however, I also believe there are times the Lord trusts us with a brief sightlessness to allow us to walk by faith.
Regardless, there was also a commonality in the revelation of Jesus that both Mary Magdalene and the two shared.
It was a present act, witnessed previously, and rooted in a relationship.
For Mary Magdalene, it was the calling of her name: “Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master” (John 20:16 KJV). How many times before had she heard His voice, and now, with her back to the “gardener,” she heard it again and acknowledged her Lord.
For the two, it was how He took the bread, blessed it, and broke it to give them. They had seen that before, maybe at the feeding of thousands (cf. Matthew 14:19), or maybe at a meal in someone’s house, or perhaps they saw the nail prints in His hands as they received the bread. Whichever it was, a previous witness was awakened with a present act, and “their eyes were opened, and they knew him…” (Luke 24:31).
Today, I wonder how Jesus will make Himself visible, and I wonder what experience may unveil the present Jesus.
I never want to miss Him; I don’t think you want to miss Him, either!
