But They Didn't See Him

Some of our friends went to the tomb and found it exactly as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.

~ Luke 24:24 CJB

The news of Jesus' murder days before had spread throughout Jerusalem. As two of His disciples walked to Emmaus, talking about recent events, they encountered a man who inquired about their conversation. Luke tells us this man was Jesus Himself, but their eyes were "restrained" from seeing Him. They tell Him how Jesus, the One they believed to be their Deliverer, was handed over by the Jewish authorities to the Romans to be crucified. We were hoping it was He who was going to redeem Israel. (v.21) Their hopes, it appeared, had been dashed. The speaker went on, however. Today is the third day since these things happened. The third day, according to some Talmud, was the "cut-off:" the soul remained near the body three days in hopes of being brought back to life in the physical world (Tanhuma, Miqetz 4; Pequdei 3); if it didn't happen, the soul journeyed on to God (Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 90b-91a). Surely, He was dead. The third day was also the day Jesus prophesied His resurrection and pronounced Himself risen! Surely, this would happen. Readers can almost hear the conflict in this man's voice as he relates all of this to Jesus. We thought...but...then again... 

Lastly, the men tell their "uninformed" companion of "certain women" who had gone to the tomb early in the morning. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. (v. 23) Legally, the testimony of women was worthless, so some members of the male persuasion went to check it out. But Him they did not see. (v.24) Confirmed, official, verified, but if not in the grave, where? Standing right before them! This guest they'd assumed was so clueless --Have you been living under a rock?! they ask (v. 18) --the man to whom they'd related the events and their aspirations, this man was the One they sought. Right before their eyes! And He was asking their perspective of the prior three days! They didn't even recognize the One of whom they told. They didn't even recognize the One for whom they longed. They didn't even recognize the One in whom they'd hoped. But He asks the content of their thoughts, their hearts. What things are troubling you? Why are you sad? (v. 17-19) It could all be so funny if it wasn't so true, for them and for us today.

This God, who created galaxies and gravity, dinosaurs and dung beetles, ecosystems and electricity, laughter and livermorium, rivers and respirations, fingerprints and fireflies --this God wants a relationship with His creation. And He sent His Son to live with us, to die for us, to rise from the grave as proof to us. Jesus isn't the one who's clueless here. Jesus isn't the one who can't see. Just like these followers of His who heard His voice, who saw His face, who breathed in His scent, but did not recognize Him, we stumble around in the dark wondering where is Jesus. Where is the Jesus who is supposed to be helping me through this divorce? Where is the Jesus who is supposed to heal me? Where is the Jesus who is supposed to pay these bills? Jesus has not abandoned us, and He still wants to know our hearts; His Spirit still sneaks up alongside us, encouraging us to speak to Him. But where are we looking for Him? In an empty tomb? On the golf course? At the bottom of a bottle? In another column of zeroes in our bank account? In another person? 

Jeremiah 29:13 says, And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. God spoke these words through Jeremiah to a people with no access to online Bibles or church websites or printing presses. We have so many places in which to "find" the truth about our Creator, yet we seek Him less and less. I would encourage you to seize this promise, seek Jesus through prayer and Bible reading. Ask Him to direct your steps to upright Bible teaching. Surrender all your preconceived notions at the foot of the cross and plead with the Holy Spirit to open your eyes. Know that Jesus is here, willing and waiting for you to see Him in all His glory.