Risen With Christ: Embracing New Life With Jesusਨਮੂਨਾ

Recognizing Jesus in Action: A Reflection on Luke 24:30-32

“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” — Luke 24:30-32

The road to Emmaus is one of the most powerful post-resurrection encounters in Scripture. Two disciples, walking in sadness and confusion, encountered the risen Christ without even realizing it. Their eyes were kept from recognizing Him at first, but when Jesus did what was so characteristic of Him—blessing and breaking bread—their eyes were opened. It was in the act of doing what Jesus always did that they finally saw Him for who He was.

The Power of Jesus’ Actions

The disciples had spent hours walking with Jesus, listening to Him interpret Scripture, yet they remained unaware of His identity. But when Jesus sat at the table, took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, their eyes were suddenly opened. Why? Because this was the Jesus they knew—the One who had fed thousands with a few loaves, who had shared meals with sinners, who had instituted the Last Supper just days before. His actions revealed His identity.

How often do we, like the disciples, fail to recognize Jesus in our midst? We seek grand revelations or extraordinary signs, but Jesus often reveals Himself through the simplest, most familiar acts—through love, service, and the breaking of bread in community. It is when we slow down and take part in the things Jesus did that we begin to see Him clearly.

Recognizing Jesus in Our Lives

Jesus still makes Himself known through ways we can recognize. When we serve others, when we extend kindness, when we gather in fellowship and share meals, we experience His presence. The disciples’ hearts burned within them as He spoke, even before they recognized Him. This is a reminder that God is often at work even when we do not fully understand or see Him.

If we want to recognize Jesus more clearly, we need to engage in the practices He modeled. Are we opening Scripture and allowing Him to teach us? Are we breaking bread with others and inviting Christ into our gatherings? Are we extending love and hospitality? These simple, Jesus-like actions have the power to open our eyes and deepen our faith.

Living with Open Eyes

Once the disciples recognized Jesus, they acted. They immediately returned to Jerusalem to share the good news. Encountering Jesus moves us to action. It calls us to live in His ways and to tell others about the transformation He brings.

May we live each day with open eyes, recognizing Jesus in the breaking of bread, in acts of love, and in the burning of our hearts as He speaks to us. Let us not wait for a dramatic sign, but instead, see Him in the ordinary, and let His presence move us to share His love with the world.

Prayer: Jesus, open my eyes to recognize You in my life. Help me to see You in Scripture, in community, and in acts of kindness and service. May my heart burn with Your presence, and may I live out my faith in a way that reveals You to others. Amen.