Eyes Opened

Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him . . . 

 - From Luke 24

Some scriptural passages are just impossible for us to totally get. We may read them over and over in our lives; study them; attend classes about them; hear sermons preached on them; pray for understanding, have life experiences specifically addressing them. 

But while we live on this side of eternity, we can never really, truly understand some things. That's where faith comes in. That's why faith is essential. 

Like the simple statement from Luke. The resurrected Jesus had been walking and talking with two of His disciples all day, one named Cleopas, and the other unnamed. 

Why didn't they recognize Jesus all day? How different does a resurrected person look, from His appearance in mortal life? Was His voice different? Did He have a glow? Did His presence put them at ease? Was He instantly a person they knew they could trust?

First, He was a great listener. He asked them to tell Him what they had been talking about. At the time, their eyes were closed. They could not see Who He was. And so He listened. He did what we all should do when we encounter others. Let them talk first. Let them say their entire piece. Let them finish. Withhold your judgments and comments. Perhaps as they talk, they will talk themselves into whatever viewpoint you can't wait to correct them with. But Jesus listened. 

And then He began to share with them, His perspective. And they listened, because they were done talking. 

Their eyes remained closed. 

Who closes our eyes so? It must be God. For whatever reason, God puts a veil over our eyes at times when we are not ready for the truth. Sometimes He veils the eyes of others, often very smart others, so that they cannot see what we see clearly, for He has uncovered our eyes. It drives us crazy when this happens. How can they be so stupid? But of course, at that point, our faith, and our love has failed us, and arrogance has taken over. 

When we see a thing clearly, we must not assume that others can, likewise. God covers eyes. He does it for His reasons. And it is not for us to question. 

Even today, this morning . . . I must revisit my relationship with an online friend, a fellow believer, a person with Scriptural and chronological authority over me. A person I must respect. We are at a loggerhead and seem totally incapable of seeing a certain issue with anything approaching common ground. Without common ground, common sense becomes elusive. 

I am going to have to just let it go with this guy. Move on. Drop it. As I have said many times in over ten years of blogging: What if they can't? 

For me to force it, when it is impossible for him to see what I do (because God has covered one or both of our sets of eyes), is the opposite of treating him with love. 

Sometimes they just can't.