Revelation or Religion?

“And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem ... and they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them.” Luke 24:33,35

To understand who Jesus is comes by revelation. This account of Jesus revealing Himself to these men is important for us to understand how we can move from an intellectual assent to the place Jesus holds in both history and our spiritual journey into a personal relationship with Him.

The Bible records these men, “talked together of all these things which had happened.” (Luke 24:14) The conversation about “all these things” was about the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. If you will, these men were talking about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus fulfilled His promise to these men, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Mat 18:20) Two were gathered, two were invoking the name of Jesus and He showed up.

Often we do not recognize the presence of Jesus, “But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.” (Luke 24:16) This is the condition of everyone upon hearing the gospel. In fact, the gospel of Jesus is foreign to the human reason, it is “to them that perish foolishness.” (1 Co 1:18) The Apostle Paul further explains this with these words:

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Co 2:14)

As these two disciples discussed the events of the Gospel, they were confused. They only had the ability to view the events of the previous days through the filter of human understanding. These events that took place were the gospel and indeed it was “foolishness” they could not “know them.” These men needed spiritual discernment.

In His conversation with these men, He asked, “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.” (Luke 24:25) Jesus pointed these men to scripture they already knew when He said, “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:26)

These men knew the scripture but did not understand it. They were like the Ethiopian traveler who was reading the Bible and said to Philip’s question about his understanding, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” (Act 8:31)

The Apostle Paul said, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”(Rom10:14) The gospel falls on deaf ears unless there is a spiritual revelation.

These two disciples experienced the events of the gospel but still were spiritual unaffected by the gospel. It was not until they fellowshipped and prayed with Jesus that their, “eyes were opened, and they knew him.” (Luke 24:31)

Spiritual regeneration requires revelation. Have you been born-again? Has Jesus “opened” your eyes? Most of the Christian enterprise know psychologically as Christendom live in a religious experience with God that is void of revelation.

If you are one of the millions who are like the two disciples, who have knowledge of the gospel of Jesus but have not had Jesus reveal Himself to you, do not be in despair. If you will call on the name of Jesus He will show up and make Himself known to you.