Luke 24:13-16; 30-31; 35 --- "And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him...And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him...And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread."
Now in recent weeks the world celebrated and commemorated the most significant event in the judeo-christian tradition: the Cruxifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Like many years before, after all the pageantry and lessons learned there may be scant attention given to what happens after the events that may provide insight.
Notice as they walked on the road to Emmaus, the followers of Christ were walking and talking among themselves about all that had happened yet didn't know Jesus when he came near unto them to walk with them. Even after Jesus spoke unto them scriptures they knew him not. It wasn't until Jesus engaged in the act of fellowship that they understood and knew him. They recalled the impact of Jesus' words upon their heart.
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John 20: 11-16 --- "But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my LORD, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master."
Notice that Mary saw Jesus face to face and talked with him, yet she didn't know him until he called her by name.
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These two episodes convey that we may talk about God amongst ourselves and talk to God in prayers fervently, but it's only when the encounters becomes personal that we show forth that we know God.
We Know God Through the Knowledge and Adoption of His Character
"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
--- II Timothy 3:12 ---
"For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."
--- I Corinthians 11:26 ---
Partaking of the Bread --- Adopting Attributes.
Partaking of the Cup --- Adopting Actions
- "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus"
- "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup"
Knowing Jesus
- "shall suffer persecution"
- "ye do shew the Lord's death till he come"
Further Reading
Breaking Bread
The Burning Heart
Related Blog: Water, Kiss, and Oil
Related Blog: The Standard
Philippians 3:10-14 --- "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Related Blog: The State's Plate
Video: Now I Know Jesus For Myself
Mississippi Mass Choir --- "It's Good To Know Jesus"
Hezekiah Walker --- Do you know Jesus?
Beyond Religiosity
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