Mensa Otabil - An Interesting Conversation
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Luke chapter 24, verses 16-17. But their eyes were restrained, so they did not know him. And he said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?"
The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were so engrossed in their sadness that they couldn't recognize Jesus, and they kept talking and ignoring this third party who had joined them on the road to Emmaus. Jesus waited. They didn't ask him any questions; they didn't draw him into their conversation. So, he had to draw himself into the conversation. He asked them a very simple question, a kind of question you and I would ask if we were in such a situation: "What are you talking about?" That's what he asked. "What kind of conversation are you involved in? What are you talking about?" And then he said, "So much so that it's made you sad. What kind of conversation is this? "
It was a non-threatening conversation. Jesus wasn't accusing them of anything, and it was a conversation that showed he cared for what they were involved in. He cared for what they were talking about. Not only that, he also cared for their emotional state. He realized that they were sad and talking. Many times in the Bible, we see that God would appear to people and ask them questions. He asked Adam, "Where are you?" after Adam sinned. He asked Cain, "Where is your brother?" And he asked Hagar, when she was running away from Sarah, "Where are you going?"
God has a way of asking people obvious questions. He doesn't ask so that he will be informed about what is going on; he's asking so that we can be aware of ourselves. So this question that Jesus is asking, "What are you talking about? What's this conversation going on?" is not for the information of Jesus. I mean, think about it; he's the resurrected one. But he wants them to bring him into their conversation. He wants to be part of what is going on. Many times, that's how God approaches us. He doesn't intrude into our lives. God will bring questions into our hearts. He brings questions into our minds, and questions for Christians are very good. They're positive because God uses the questions in our hearts to draw us close to him.
So when, for example, a person is praying and they're not getting answers to their prayer, and they say, "Lord, why are you not answering my prayer? Lord, why are you not doing what I desire?" those questions must draw us to Jesus. In other words, as we ask those questions, we must bring God onto the scene because the reason we are asking the questions is that we want answers. That's what Jesus is doing at this time. He says, "What are you talking about?" He wants to be part of their conversation. He wants to be part of what is going on. In the end, he wants to deal with the sadness that has overtaken their hearts.
So, think about all the questions in your heart. Think about all the questions you don't have answers to. Probably God is using those questions to draw you to himself. One of the ways to deal with your questions is to take them into prayer. Secondly, study the Bible, and probably talk to a mature Christian about your questions, because those questions that perplex you today and make you sad may introduce you to the power of God in a very remarkable way, which is what was going to happen to these people. The questions they were asking themselves and the one Jesus asked them eventually led them to discover the resurrected Lord. I pray that our questions and your questions will eventually draw you to the power of the resurrected Christ.
Let's pray. Say with me, "Heavenly Father, I know you are always speaking to me. Help me to recognize your voice at all times in Jesus' name. Amen." And amen.