Lately I’ve been reading novels that are reworked from popular fairytales. What has struck me is how the protagonists are oblivious to the obvious. Like the common girl who meets a mysterious man in an enchanted woods who is obviously the crown prince. As the reader, I had it figured out in the first part of the book, where as, she was shocked when she finally found out in the second to last chapter.
Maybe you’ve watched a movie and experienced the same knowing feeling. You know they shouldn’t go into the basement or into that dark alley. Maybe you’ve even shouted at the tv.
I find myself thinking – are they really that blind? It’s so obvious!
But then I wondered – what would I think if I were in that situation? Would my own feelings cloud my perception?
It seems clear, when we are an objective observer. It’s the same reason counseling helps people who are too overwhelmed by their problems and emotions.
For this post, I wanted to take it further. What was it like to live in Jesus time? Could they see the obvious? How would I respond? Here are two instances with two different sets of individuals needing explanations in order to see clearly. Take a minute to read these scriptures and think about what is was like for these men who hadn’t read to the end of the story.
“Don’t let this rattle you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I’m on my way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live. And you already know the road I’m taking.”
Thomas said, “Master, we have no idea where you’re going. How do you expect us to know the road?”
Jesus said, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You’ve even seen him!”
Philip said, “Master, show us the Father; then we’ll be content.”
“You’ve been with me all this time, Philip, and you still don’t understand? To see me is to see the Father. So how can you ask, ‘Where is the Father?’ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you aren’t mere words. I don’t just make them up on my own. The Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act.”
John 14:1-10 MSG
That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.
He asked, “What’s this you’re discussing so intently as you walk along?”
They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what’s happened during the last few days?”
He said, “What has happened?”
They said, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn’t find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn’t see Jesus.”
Then he said to them, “So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?” Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.
They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: “Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.” So he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.
Back and forth they talked. “Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?”
Luke 24:13-32 MSG
Sometimes the obvious is clouded by our thoughts and circumstances. Sometimes we need an objective view, or the higher view of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, to explain it to us.
I want to think I would have had it all figured out, especially if I was there listening to Jesus, but only a few caught on that he was the Messiah, the Son of God, and one with the Father. In my last post I quoted this scripture: “We are careful not to judge people by what they seem to be, though we once judged Christ in this way.” (2 Cor. 5-16) Is this not a statement that the apostles’ view of Jesus was limited by their own beliefs?
So what is my takeaway for today? Be patient with those who haven’t figured out what you know to be true. Be ready to share your insights when asked, but share them with love in your heart.
Grace & Peace,
Sandy
The Far Reaches of Grace 
I like this, it was a very good and inspiring read.
Thanks. 😁