30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
In our verses for today we have the Bread of Life taking bread, blessing it, breaking it and bestowing it – so very much like Jesus! I am reminded of the first verse of a song of which, unfortunately, I cannot remember the title yet the words ring in my head even as I read our Scripture for today – it goes somewhat like this: “This is my body broken for you; for all your sins and all you’ve been through. This is my blood, and when you’ve reached the end, I offer you again the body and the blood.” When the Bread of Life offers the broken Bread of His body, blinded eyes become open. Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians come to mind:
4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Cor 4:4-6 (NIV)
It is God’s desire for our eyes to be open to the “light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God”. We find in Jeremiah:
6 My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. 7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. Jer 24:6-7 (NIV)
The disciples we read about in our verses today had the veils of their eyes removed and the mists lifted so that they knew without question that they were in the presence of the Master.
“He might put on the shape of another, but no other could put on his; and therefore it must be he. See how Christ by his Spirit and grace makes himself known. The work is completed by the opening of the eyes of their mind. If he who gives the revelation does not give the understanding, we are in the dark still.” Matthew Henry
I am reminded of the patience and of the sweetness of Jesus towards the doubting disciple Thomas:
24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." 28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:24-29 (NIV)
“Jesus then pronounced a blessing on all who would come to faith without the help of a visible, bodily manifestation to them. This blessing comes to all who believe on the basis of the proclaimed gospel and the evidences for its validity. Believers living today are not deprived by not seeing Him physically; instead, they are the recipients of His special blessing: Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Bible Knowledge Commentary
Paul encourages us with the following words:
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Cor 4:16-18 (NIV)
Make no mistake about it; the temporal will give way to the eternal. For the believer, the material temporal world will be replaced by an eternal glory in Christ that will never fade away.
We find in Titus:
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Titus 2:11-14 (NIV)
Therefore, Paul tells us:
And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words. 1 Thess 4:17-18 (NIV)