Walking With A Friend

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.  And he said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?"
Luke 24: 13-17 NKJV

As the followers of the risen Lord walked on the road to Emmaus that day, they had no idea who they were talking to.  What they did know was that Jesus was dead, having been betrayed to the Jewish authorities and ultimately crucified on a cross.  In fact, these were the events they were discussing among themselves when Jesus entered the conversation.  When Jesus inquired as to their conversation, the men were astonished that this stranger was not aware of current events in Jersusalem.  They quickly filled him in on what had occured, still unaware they were talking with Jesus.  Finaly,  Jesus reveals himself to his companions.

Then their eyes were opened and they knew him; and he vanished from their sight.  And they said to one another, "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?"
Luke 24: 31-32 NKJV

Was it really that difficult for these men who had spent so much time with Jesus to recognize their friend?  The scripture says that the eyes of these men were "restrained" so that they did not recognize him.  Whether it was by Gods will or their simple unbelief, their eyes remained closed to who this stranger among them was.  My point is this, how often have we been in the company of Jesus yet failed to recognize the presence of our Lord?  Galations 2:20 assures us that Christ now lives in each of us, so we don't need to look too far in order to find our Lord Jesus.  Yet, at times we're like those men on the road to Emmaus, looking for the presence of Jesus.  We are assured that Jesus is with us each and every day.  We can now spend our day walking with our friend.

~Scott~