Seeing in Times of Lament

Scripture — Luke 24:13-16 (NRSV)

Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 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.

Devotion

I don’t know about you but there’s nothing like watching a 3D movie with those fascinating special effects, and it’s definitely not the same if you’re not wearing those 3D glasses.  I recall once going with a friend who didn’t purchase or bring any 3D glasses and they were deprived of seeing the items get closer to us with the creation of illusions that made that movie truly come alive, like Superman (2025). There really is nothing like seeing through those 3D glasses what you can’t see with the natural eye.

As I read today’s text, I asked myself if the persons on the road to Emmaus needed some 3D glasses to see Jesus on that day. I pondered how was it that Jesus drew near to these two people, Cleopas and his friend (name unknown) and yet they did not recognize that they were walking and talking to Jesus.

In vs. 16 the KJV says, “their eyes were held,” whereas in the NIV, it says, “but their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.”

Can we identify with these people; are our eyes held from seeing Jesus in our situations, when we go through times of grief, sadness or lament? These two persons were traveling the road to the village of Emmaus full of sadness, due to the fact that Jesus had been crucified. Now on that specific day the latest news report was that Jesus was no longer in the tomb. They wondered who would have stolen His body and why did this all seem so bizarre to them, with their hopes and dreams shattered; the one they had hoped would redeem Israel was nowhere to be found.

Jesus initiated the conversation, as he asked what they were discussing. Then Cleopas responded with two questions. First, he asked Jesus if he was the only stranger in Jerusalem? This was the same Jesus who in Luke 18:31 told his disciples the direction they were going to next was Jerusalem, because it was time for the prophecy concerning the Son of Man to be accomplished.

Sometimes as leaders we may experience challenging times which grip our hearts so that we ask Jesus the same type of questions. We ask Him if He is not familiar with what is happening in our lives, and then we go further to ask Him whether He has no knowledge of our prolonged days experiencing this specific pain.  Can you identify with those times when you admittedly were sad, overwhelmed with internal emotional pain? This could have been due to being betrayed by a fellow Christian who you trusted, or a brother/sister on your ministry team not co-operating in the ways you had expected after all the team building sessions everyone had invested in. It could be due to prolonged illness of a family member when you have prayed for their relief, or that person who has served the Lord faithfully suffering from the diagnosis of cancer; the emotional pain overtakes us.

I didn’t realize Jesus asked rhetorical questions until I read this: “And he said to them, “What things?” After all, we know that Jesus knew the things they were discussing, which makes us ask why he was asking them this question.

These two people had expectations. In vs. 21 they share with Jesus, how they had trusted he (Jesus) would have been the redeemer of Israel. However, here it was, now on the third day these men had missed Jesus—for He was standing right in front of them and they could not see Him.

Jesus went even further in not only talking and walking with them, but teaching them as well in the midst of their disillusion. Similarly, in times of sadness and grief, Jesus journeys with us and teaches us through those transitions. Even if we feel He is not there, He definitely is there with us, and we must push to let faith reign over feelings. Jesus teaches us of His love, the hope we have in Him, and the peace He gives that passes all understanding. As Jesus teaches, we can testify of His unfailing character—being a healer, a provider, protector, a sustainer, and a friend. May the moments when we feel alone be the times we pray for an increase of His presence in our lives.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35).