WHAT BLINDNESS TAUGHT ME ABOUT SPIRITUAL SIGHT

WHAT BLINDNESS TAUGHT ME ABOUT SPIRITUAL SIGHT

By Carolyn Dale Newell

So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

Luke 24:15-16 NKJV

We have all coped with seasons of sadness. We will probably experience it again. As two men departed from Jerusalem, they discussed their common grief. Jesus had been crucified and buried. What would they do? Jesus was supposed to redeem Israel.

Jesus joined the two men on the road to Emmaus, but their eyes were restrained from recognizing Him. Their hearts ached, unaware their joy was walking with them.

They explained the reason for their melancholy. Certain women had seen angels at the empty tomb. The heavenly messengers proclaimed Jesus was alive. Peter and John ran to the tomb. They found no trace of the Lord.

Jesus rebuked them, calling them foolish and “slow of heart to believe” (v. 25).

Jesus explained the Old Testament prophecies concerning Himself as they journeyed to Emmous. No explanation was necessary. How many times had He told them? He must die, rise again, and then send the Holy Spirit.

They drew near their village and begged Jesus to stay with them He remained for dinner. Jesus took bread, broke and blessed it. At that moment, their eyes were opened, and then Jesus vanished. In retrospect, they understood how their hearts burned while He spoke with them. Immediately, they returned to Jerusalem. They should have never left, but faithlessness told them there was no reason to stay in Jerusalem.

Their eyes could not perceive Jesus, but He stood before their eyes.

Sight loss has taught me the invisible exists. I pour almond milk on my cereal, set it on the kitchen table, and eat my breakfast. Countless times, I have forgotten my almond milk, and it sits on the table for hours. The almond milk is invisible to me, but that does not mean it is not there.

Often, we sorrow, but we cannot see the entire picture. Jesus is working in the background, but our eyes are restrained. He is our hope in hopeless situations. He comforts us in our grief. He brings joy in difficult times. He showers us with love, and Jesus blankets us with peace.

Sometimes, we fret unnecessarily. The two disciples should have been ecstatic with joy, but they could not see the whole picture. Do you recall a time when something seemed awful, but it turned out to be wonderful?

We also have foolish moments and times of unbelief, like these two disciples. We need to open our spiritual eyes to our invisible world. We see the problem at hand. The situation we cannot control. The storms we must traverse.

We must change our focus. Stop staring at our problem, and start staring at Jesus.

Just like my forgotten almond milk, we forget. It appears as if Jesus has abandoned us when our situations are dire, but He is there 24/7.

Sweet friend, Jesus is beside you right now. Don’t be like the unbelieving disciples and miss Him. Open your spiritual eyes and see Him. He loves you. He sees you. Now, see Him.

Lord Jesus, help me see what I cannot see. Help me trust You until You reveal it to me. In Your name, I pray. Amen.

DIG DEEPER

Read Luke 24:13-35.

HIKING THE TRAIL

We cannot see the mountain view from the valley. Trust Him to bring you to the mountain top.

Copyright 2018 Carolyn Dale Newell.

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