Their Eyes were Opened: Luke 24:28-31
“28) And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. 29) But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30) 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. 31) Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.” Luke 24:28-31
This is an intriguing part of the story. Because it was late, they urged Jesus to stay with them. They were most likely staying at an inn.
As they reclined at table to eat, Jesus took the bread and blessed it. Something about this act opened their eyes and they recognized Him. Immediately, He vanished from their midst.
The reader is now left with questions. What was it about blessing the bread opened their eyes? Was it related to the bread or the way He blessed it? Maybe it was the culmination of the whole venture of spending the day with Jesus. Let’s consider come possible answers.
We are tempted to point to the Passover meal and Jesus blessing the wine and the bread. The problem with that understanding is neither of these two men were present at the Passover meal. They were not of the twelve apostles.
The next most reasonable connection relates to Him feeding the multitudes. (See Mathew 14:19; 15:36). With both the five thousand and the four thousand, the way He took charge of the meal and blessed the bread was His unique brand. Mathew says He looked up to heaven while blessing it.
These men may have been present for those miracles. If that is the case, then the way He prayed gave Him away. Isn’t that an interesting thought? Does the way you pray give you away?
A third possibility might point back to John 6:26-51 and His discussion with the Pharisees about being the bread of life. He was like manna from Heaven. He was living bread. At a time when these two men were focused on death, Jesus focused on life.
As soon as they recognized Him, He vanished from their midst. Why?
They had just become believers in His true identity. Their eyes were opened. They now had a mission to go and tell others.
The god of this world works hard to keep people blind to the gospel. (See 2 Corinthians 4:3-4). God works to open blind eyes.
When the eyes are opened and faith in Jesus begins, it is like the first big domino is tipped over. It starts a chain reaction. It begins to change people. It is always wonderful to behold. Have your eyes been opened to believe in Jesus?
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“28) And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. 29) But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30) 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. 31) Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.” Luke 24:28-31
This is an intriguing part of the story. Because it was late, they urged Jesus to stay with them. They were most likely staying at an inn.
As they reclined at table to eat, Jesus took the bread and blessed it. Something about this act opened their eyes and they recognized Him. Immediately, He vanished from their midst.
The reader is now left with questions. What was it about blessing the bread opened their eyes? Was it related to the bread or the way He blessed it? Maybe it was the culmination of the whole venture of spending the day with Jesus. Let’s consider come possible answers.
We are tempted to point to the Passover meal and Jesus blessing the wine and the bread. The problem with that understanding is neither of these two men were present at the Passover meal. They were not of the twelve apostles.
The next most reasonable connection relates to Him feeding the multitudes. (See Mathew 14:19; 15:36). With both the five thousand and the four thousand, the way He took charge of the meal and blessed the bread was His unique brand. Mathew says He looked up to heaven while blessing it.
These men may have been present for those miracles. If that is the case, then the way He prayed gave Him away. Isn’t that an interesting thought? Does the way you pray give you away?
A third possibility might point back to John 6:26-51 and His discussion with the Pharisees about being the bread of life. He was like manna from Heaven. He was living bread. At a time when these two men were focused on death, Jesus focused on life.
As soon as they recognized Him, He vanished from their midst. Why?
They had just become believers in His true identity. Their eyes were opened. They now had a mission to go and tell others.
The god of this world works hard to keep people blind to the gospel. (See 2 Corinthians 4:3-4). God works to open blind eyes.
When the eyes are opened and faith in Jesus begins, it is like the first big domino is tipped over. It starts a chain reaction. It begins to change people. It is always wonderful to behold. Have your eyes been opened to believe in Jesus?
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
