Our scripture is Luke 24:16. The context of this is the road to Emmaus, after Jesus has resurrected and he’s first appearing to a few people. He comes alongside a couple men walking and talking about Him, and they’re wondering what happened. I’m going to read some surrounding scripture as well. “While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him” (Luke 24:15-16, ESV). And then jumping ahead, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself… When he was at [the] 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?” (Luke 24:27-32, ESV).

This caught my attention because they were kept from recognizing Jesus, but I wanted to point out that it was for their benefit! God is only good and always good. He’s not denying people salvation who are seeking it and desiring after it. He desires all people to be saved.

Why are they kept from recognizing Jesus? These are men who had already believed that Jesus was the Son of God. They are only being kept from physically recognizing Jesus. Spiritually, they are actually having the Scriptures opened to them. I think that’s why Jesus had to mask Himself. He had something to teach them, and seeing Him resurrected would have been a big distraction!

God does not hide Himself from you unless He has a good purpose in it. God can’t do evil! It’s impossible. He can only do all things well. He can only be good. If you can’t see Jesus, if He seems to be behind a cloud, hidden from sight, know there is a lesson to be learned.

Don’t stop seeking Him and seeking to learn from Him. It will never mean that you’ve been rejected forever, that He’s not really there with you, that He doesn’t care, or that His Word isn’t true. Seek Him even if you can’t see. He didn’t go anywhere.