By: Robert Serreyn
Question? How come the two disciples in Luke 24:16 did not recognize Jesus?
Luke 24:16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
Answer:
As the text indicates these Two Disciples were in UNBELIEF (should not know him).
SHOULD NOT – Greek – ME= in absolute denial (unbelief), KNOW – Greek – EPIGINOGKO = To Reconize, or Perceive.
They could not grasp or understand (as hard as they tried) that Jesus WHO PROMISED to be their saviour ( they were thinking more in terms of being saved or delivered from the oppressive Roman government – V21 ) HAD BEEN put to death – V20, and that it had been Three Days AFTER the fact – V21.
In other words they were in ABSOLUTE DENIAL, disbelief that this REDEEMER, and SAVIOUR that they had placed ALL of their belief and trust in was now dead DESPITE the report that they had received from the two Mary’s that Jesus HAD RISEN – Matthew 28:1-6 just like he said that he would – John 2:19-21
Matthew 28:1-6 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. (2) And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. (3) His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: (4) And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. (5) And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. (6) He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
John 2:19-21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. (20) Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? (21) But he spake of the temple of his body.
NOTE: The report from the Two women in Matthew Chp. 28, (see also Mark 16:1-14, Luke 24:1-35, John 20:1- 18) gives GREAT CREDIBILITY to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ BECAUSE a woman’s testimony in 1st Century Jewish and Roman society WAS NOT considered reliable, the fact that the gospel writers MENTION women as THE FIRST ones to discover the Empty Tomb of Jesus PROVES that the gospel writers WERE NOT recording fiction BUT an Accurate Account.
As the text further states “Their Eyes were Holden” in other words used Metaphorically to mean BLINDED by their own unbelief.
In Conclusion:
To apply this for today, “Sadly many christians ARE BLINDED (Eyes Holden) by their own unbelief” to the Will of God.
Unfortunately MANY christians live DEFEATED lives because they fail to live in accordance to the Lord’s Will and his Word.
ONLY by their ABSOLUTE DENIAL to do “Thus Saith the Lord” have they PIERCED themselves through WITH MANY sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Just like those Two disciples in Luke Chp. 24 MANY christians live by sight rather than by faith.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH