On the walk to Emmaus, A stranger appeared to two Disciples in a manner not recognized. The stranger walked up and heard them speak of the events that had occurred over the past three days. He then asked them, what was it that had occurred. They wanted to know who this stranger was that he was not aware of how the Messiah their Teacher who taught about love and performed miracles was savagely tortured and then crucified, died and was buried and how his tomb was now empty. They told this stranger how badly their Messiah and teacher had been treated before He was savagely tortured and then crucified. They could not believe that this stranger had not heard about this or did not know about the savage death of their messiah.  At that time Jesus did not identify Himself (He was the stranger).

Luke 24:13-35 records how  these two disciples, one called Cleopas, was leaving Jerusalem for Emmaus, dispirited and perplexed over the report they had heard from the women about what happened to their Messiah -Jesus. The man whom they took for a stranger who still did not identify himself started talking with them as they walked. He walked with them and He talked with them listening intently to what they were saying and listening to how they felt about what they were saying.  They told this stranger that was walking with them, the things that happened to Jesus their messiah. They told the stranger that Jesus was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. They said then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. They explained how they had their hopes up that Jesus was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. One of the disciples then said it is now the third day since it happened. They also said, but now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn’t find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. They said some of their friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn’t see Jesus.”

On being told the reason for their perplexity, the stranger began to explain to them that the death and resurrection of the Messiah was foretold in the Scriptures.  The stranger went on to tell them that the suffering of the messiah was necessary  because only then could He enter into glory. Greatly encouraged by the conversation, on reaching Emmaus they invited the stranger in for the night. They really liked this stranger and wanted him to stay with them and wanted him to walk and talk with them some more, but it was only when the stranger broke bread with them at mealtime that they finally recognized him:  and as soon as they recognized Him, he vanished!

Can you imagine that? Jesus Christ was walking and talking with the disciples all the time and they didn’t even know that it was Him. Imagine in your own life the times you are walking and talking with someone you didn’t know, could Jesus also have been walking with you and talking with you and remained unrecognized? Also, Imagine a loaf of bread broken in half, much in the same way a life is sometimes broken in half. Then see the genius of the scriptures illustrating how the bread had to be broken to spiritually feed others, and in the same way  as the bread is broken in your life, lives are opened that they may see and  know the love and Glory of Almighty God. As each of us ask Jesus to stay with us to break the bread for Eternal Life, Jesus is able to work in and through our broken circumstances and broken lives to reach and spiritually feed others. Also often walking with you unrecognized, Jesus appears in your life and explains to you what you need to know, what you need to do and where you need to go. He is always explaining, always guiding, always saving and always instructing. If you are lost, ask Him to help you find your way. If you are sick, ask Him to teach you the reason you are sick and if it’s God’s will for your life ask Him to help you get healed. If you need help, ask Him to send you help. If you are broke financially, ask Him to show you where the money is that you need. If you need guidance, ask Him to guide you. If you will ask, He will guide you even if you don’t recognize that it is really Him guiding you! He knows you and recognizes you and is present in the breaking of bread in your life even if you don’t know and recognize Him!