In the days preceding Easter, many of us will journey through Jesus’ final steps on this planet, retracing His sacrifice for us: His donkey ride into Jerusalem when He was hailed King of the Jews. A final, farewell supper in the Upper Room. A bent bowing in the garden of Gethsemane. And then . . . a skirmished kiss, an expected arrest, and appearances before various authorities until a sentence of scourging and death was carried out.
We will stand in the angry crowd. Will we recognize His true identity?
We will walk beside His beaten body as He struggles under the weight of the cross. Will we see the pain He endured for us?
We will kneel before Him as He suffers in crucifixion. Will we grasp the separation He endured that we might never be forsaken?
We will grieve outside the stone-sealed grave. Will we believe He will rise again?
At the conclusion of our remembrance, standing in celebration next Sunday morning, we will sing of His real—and our ultimate—resurrection from this life to the next. On Sunday, and in the days and weeks that follow, will we see our risen Lord as He continues walking among us? Or will we, like so many in the New Testament account, miss the risen Jesus?
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In the garden: Grief, disorientation, and fear closed the eyes of Mary Magdalene who took the risen Jesus to be a gardener (John 20:11–15).
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On the road: Grief and incomplete theology closed the eyes of two followers who concluded He was but a fellow traveler taking up conversation to pass the journey (Luke 24:15).
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In the Upper Room: Doubt, fear, and nonsensical thinking closed the eyes of the disciples who concluded Jesus was a ghost (Luke 24:37).
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On the beach: Distance and dismay blinded the disciples to the presence of their Lord (John 21:4).
In each situation, followers of Jesus were blinded by unexpectedness. They saw Him dying and decided He was dead and would stay dead. When He appeared in a garden, on the road, in the upper room, on the beach, they didn’t expect Him to be where He was. So they missed Him.
In each post-resurrection circumstance—in God’s sovereign timing—eyes were opened and Jesus was revealed (Luke 24:31). And while, admittedly, we can only “see” God when He enlightens the eyes of our souls to see Him, when God makes a surprise appearance in our everyday, don’t we often miss Him too?
As we undertake our Easter journey, both this week and next and in the seasons that follow, can we cooperate with God in His eye-opening work? Can we watch for Him to reveal what He wants to reveal to us when He wants to reveal it?
Let’s not miss Jesus. Watch. Jesus is risen! Here He comes!
“Their eyes were opened and they recognized him.” Luke 24:31
—Written by Elisa Morgan. Used by permission from the author. Click here to connect with Elisa.
18 Responses
May we have eyes wide open this week and next to "see" Jesus as He moves among us! Blessed holy week dear friends.
I want to see God in all that he has done, all that is doing right now and all that he will do. I look for God in his word, his will and his way in my life. My hope is in Jesus in this world. I am his servant and live it out in obedience. When I fail, I go to the Father and repent hallelujah. I believe in eternity with Jesus so now I live. Thank you the truth of our faith in God as a community in one accord.
Truly God is always with us. The circumstances cause us to think that God doesn’t hear us, just beacuse we would be measuring our time and God’s timing.
I need to read this on daily basis not only before Easter! I start out in the morning reading the word then throughout the day I try doing all things that I need to get done..
I need to have my eyes opened..thank you so much..
Yes , sometimes we don’t realize when he’s right beside us until later when you know in your heart that you couldn’t have done whatever it was, without him directing you. God gives you the strength to do the unimaginable. Help us father to keep our eyes and our heart open to you at all times. Thank you for forgiveness and the guidance we need to follow you. I am thankful and glad you opened my eyes to find you in my hesrt
Sherrie, these words are so honest and true. The Lord truly does give us unimaginable strength to help guide us. Amen.
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Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast
Open our eyes LORD, we want to have you in our daily lives to magnify You. Please bless sincere hearts desires according to You Will, we ask in Jesus’ Name Amen!!
Sonja,
Amen! Amen!
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Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT MEMBER OF JESUS ( BECAUSE JESUS LOVES US AND REPENTANCE) THANK YOU JESUS!!!
Tina, we are so grateful that this was encouraging to you!
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Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast
YES, we serve a risen Savior!
yes yes Lolita!! Amen.
This was so Beautifully written. Praise to the Lord he has risen!
Thankful that you are in the GHH Community!
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Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast
Thank you…
We are so grateful that this was encouraging to you!
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Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast
This is beautiful, Elisa. Thank you so much for the gift.
Lori, we are so grateful that this was encouraging to you!
Have you joined our women’s prayer group and let us know how we can cover you in prayer? https://www.facebook.com/groups/1065571583891975
Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast