I got a glimpse at Jesus’ character yesterday.

Have you ever read a Bible story you’ve read countless times, and find something you’ve never noticed before?

I was reading the story of Jesus walking with two men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24). It was just after Jesus’ resurrection. He joined two men who were on a journey to the town of Emmaus. He asked them why they were “downcast”. They didn’t realize who was asking them, so they proceeded to tell Jesus about his own death. Jesus then continued to tell them how this story was already laid out in the scriptures.

When the men arrived at their destination, they still had no clue who they were traveling with. Luke goes on to write:

 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.

I love how that’s written: “as if he were going farther”. Jesus was preparing to leave… before he delivered the punchline. Or at least, he appeared as if he was planning to leave.

The men invited him in, and he eventually revealed the truth of who he was.

What I had never noticed before was how close these men were to completely missing Jesus. Jesus was preparing to leave. He was intentionally waiting for their invitation. If they hadn’t welcomed him in, they would have completely missed him.

I tend to pray “Lord, reveal yourself to me”. But, I wonder how often he’s waiting to do just that, and I haven’t invited him into my life to do so. 

Lord… come in.