Are You Seeing through Resurrection Eyes?

April 24, 2023

Are You Looking through Resurrection Eyes?

Are You Seeing through Resurrection Eyes?

By Brooke Holt

“That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?’ And they stood still, looking sad.” Luke 24:13-17

On Easter morning, our Gospel reading had Mary Magdalene at the tomb early in the morning frantically looking for Jesus. His tomb had been opened and two angels sat where his body once lay. If that wasn’t evidence of his resurrection, Jesus’ grave clothes lay right there on the stone. John’s Gospel tells us John saw and believed; then he and Peter headed back to their homes. Mary, on the other hand, remained at the tomb weeping and continuing her quest to find the body of Jesus. Even when Jesus stood at the entrance of the tomb, Mary did not have eyes to see him. So desperate to find the crucified Jesus, she did not recognize the resurrected Jesus standing in front of her.

The disciples headed towards Emmaus were not much different. So engrossed in their grief, pain, and confusion, they did not recognize Jesus when he joined them on the road. They talked about all that had transpired over the past few days. Like Mary, they were focused on the crucifixion of Jesus instead of the glorious news of his resurrection.

After hearing such glorious news, why did they remain sad? Why couldn’t they recognize Jesus was with them? Because they were looking through the lenses of their grief. The had a horrific past few days. Their beloved friend, teacher, and Messiah was betrayed, beaten, and crucified as a criminal. It was too much to process. How could such evil happen to the one they believed to be the Messiah? Though these disciples had heard Jesus speak of his resurrection, they did not know or understand. They did not embrace the resurrection news that was announced. Therefore, they kept processing life through the death of Jesus.

What about you? Are you looking through resurrection eyes? Do you recognize his light shining in the darkness? Do you perceive his work in you and through you? Do you feel his presence and the empowerment of his Holy Spirit? If so, you are seeing through resurrection eyes. That does not mean life will be easy and that every challenge will be resolved. What it does mean is that you know his presence with you through it all. More importantly, you know he has won the battle. No matter what you face in this world, Jesus has already won and will ultimately bring you to full victory too.

Reflection:

What are you looking through – crucifixion eyes or resurrection eyes? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Recommended Resource:

Let's face it, the Christian life is hard. Relationships take work. Christians forget. Sometimes it is tempting to go back to the days when God was not the center of our lives - to backslide. We are all faced with tremendous pressures to drift away from intimacy with Jesus and the community of the Church. However, the Lord invites us to pay attention, to move forward, to draw near, and to live lives of worship. Draw Near: Hebrews on Christian Worship is a small group Bible study on the Book of Hebrews intended to lead participants into a deeper intimacy with the living God in the context of New Testament worship. Draw nearer to God in authentic worship today!