September 19, 2026 · David Farmer
Him They Did See
“When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.”
Luke 24:30-35 →
## Imprints
It’s always peculiar to me how strong imprints on our memories can be. Certain smells can take us back to a childhood memory; a perfume linked to a specific girlfriend. Or like comfort foods. If I eat Corn Chips with wet hands (which of course is rarely), I’m suddenly transported back to a day when I was at the lake with family. We got out from swimming to sit at the picnic table and eat sandwiches on white bread. Along with this were Corn Chips. My hands were still shriveled from being in the water so long, and an eternal memory was made. Well it would seem the disciples had imprints as strong as this made on them. Their time with Jesus hadn’t been uneventful. He had made strong impressions on their minds that they would never forget. Here are two men walking away wondering what happened to Jesus. One commentary on this passage speaks of this same process of a sparked memory imprint going on for them. It’s always preached in this passage that it would be strange for a guest to be invited in to a house and then take the position of Master over the table. But when He took the bread, blessed the bread, broke the bread, and gave the bread to them, something snapped in their minds. I would guess they had been at the Last Supper themselves. But if not, they may have been at the feeding of the 5000...or the 4000.
## Recognizing Him
Looking at this verb combination of the taking, blessing, breaking, and giving of bread, we only find it involved in the 5000, the 4000, the Last Supper, and here. Each time is in Jesus' hands. Looking at the first two, we see Him doing the miracle but never proclaiming anything about Himself. Surely the disciples saw and took note that there was something different about this person. At the Last Supper He tries to be rather plain with them, but it was a comparatively mundane situation, and their eyes were still unable to recognize Him. Now after the resurrection, He sits here at this table. He had spent so much conversation on the road opening the Scriptures and filling them in. Now He opens their eyes.
## Self-Check
We can often go along wondering where Jesus is. He may be feeding the 5000 right in front of our face, and we just don’t get it. He may be openly proclaiming some part of His plan in our life, and we just don’t get it. Then one day, He catches up with us walking away wondering what’s happened to Him, and He opens our eyes to see Him, and something snaps! “Aha! Corn Chips by the lake!” we say, and we realize He’s been there all along.
## Too Good To Be True