Have you ever met someone who seemed absolutely clueless?  Some days I stare at that clueless person in the mirror.

Clueless people just don’t seem to notice the obvious.  What appears plain as day to most of us, the clueless person does not even see it.  The popular description is that they “just don’t get it.”

On the day of His resurrection, Jesus encountered two such clueless people. You can find this account in Luke 24:13-35.

We don’t’ know a lot about the particulars in this event.  The Bible stats that two of Jesus’ followers were on their way to a place called Emmaus.  Only one of the travelers, named Cleopas, is identified.  All we know about Emmaus is that it was 7 miles from Jerusalem.  The location of Biblical Emmaus remains a mystery to this day.

These two were deeply engaged in a discussion of the events of the last three days. They didn’t notice someone join them on their journey, and when they did they didn’t recognize it was Jesus.

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How Could They Be So Clueless?

Luke tells us that “their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.”  The choice of words and grammatical construction reveal that their problem was not one of ignorance but perception.  Some have suggested God blinded them from recognizing Jesus.  Considering Jesus’ later rebuke to them, however, that doesn’t seem fit the narrative.

Jesus’ rebuke sheds some light on their problem.  He said that they were “foolish” and “slow of heart to believe.”

The word translated foolish is actually the opposite of “wise.”  It wasn’t that they didn’t know some facts, they just didn’t know how to accurately assess and apply what they knew.  Couple that with an unwillingness to believe even what they did know and you have a clueless and faithless combination.

They had Scriptures to point them to the Messiah.  Jesus clearly and patiently explained how their Scriptures clearly pointed to Him as the Messiah.  They had the evidence, they both failed to see it’s application and believe that it pointed to Jesus.

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Could We Be So Clueless and Faithless?

Lest we judge these two travelers too harshly, we should consider our own understanding and heart.  If we are not careful, we “just don’t get it” either. How can we avoid the same dullness? I think this account gives us three great practices.

First, KNOW what the Bible says and what it means by what it says.  Jesus pointed out all the Scriptures and how they applied to Him.  As you read the Bible, ask yourself three questions. What does it mean?  Why does that matter?  What am I to do about it?  Be intentional in your quest to know the word of God and mindful in its application to your life.

Second, BELIEVE what you read and learn.  Believe that God’s way is the best way.  Believe that obedience to Him and His word is always the best best path.  Then act on that. Faith is not an intellectual assent to a particular truth. Faith is acting on our belief.

Finally, they realized who Jesus was when they watched Him break and bless the bread.  They had seen Him do that dozens of times over a three year period, and it looked comfortingly familiar.  Take time often to REHEARSE the times the Lord has spoken to you and worked in your life.  Always remember how His voice, though not audible, sounds in your heart.  Remember how His hand looks as it moves the circumstances of your life.

Don’t walk to your daily destination clueless and faithless.  Recognize that Jesus walks with you and listen as He leads and guides you along you way.

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For further reading, check out Are You An Obliviot?

What are some of the ways you hone your senses to notice Jesus throughout your day?  Feel free to his the “leave a comment” tab at the top and share with us.