Children’s Corner – 3rd Sunday of Easter 2020

Now you see him, now you don’t

Jesus reveals himself to his disciples on the road to Emmaus.

Scripture:

“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him, and he disappeared from their sight.”  Luke 24:30-31

I’m sure most of you like to watch Disney films, do you? What is your favourite Disney film? My children always liked to watch films such as Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Robin Hood and The Jungle Book.  One of the Disney films that your mum and dad (or perhaps granny or granddad) might remember is called “Now You See Him, Now You Don’t”. It’s a funny film about a college student called Dexter Riley, who developed a secret formula that you could spray on objects or people, and make them disappear. In the film, a gang of thieves tries to steal the formula to help them rob banks. It is a very funny film.

Of course, there is no secret formula that can make things disappear and reappear, but there is an event in the Bible where Jesus made himself appear and disappear to his followers. It is a very interesting story and every bit of it is true!

After Jesus was crucified and had risen from the dead, his followers were very sad and confused. They didn’t know what was going to happen next. One day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus. As they walked along, Jesus came and began walking with them, but God kept them from recognizing him.

As they walked, they discussed all of the things that had happened. As they came near to Emmaus, it was late in the day so they asked the stranger who had been walking with them to stay the night with them. So Jesus went to their home. As they sat down to eat, Jesus took the bread and blessed it and gave it to them to eat. Suddenly, their eyes were opened and they recognized him. At that very moment, he disappeared!

The two followers went back to Jerusalem and found the eleven disciples and others who had gathered with them. They told them the story about how Jesus had appeared to them as they travelled to Emmaus and how they had recognized him as he was breaking bread. Just as they were telling them about it, Jesus himself appeared and stood among them. The whole group was frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!

“Why are you troubled?” Jesus asked. “Look at my hands and feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”(38-39)

Isn’t that a wonderful story? Would you like for Jesus to reveal himself to you? Well, Jesus still reveals himself to his followers today, but he does it through his Word and the Holy Spirit. He may not appear to you in the same way he did to the disciples in our Bible lesson today, but if you study God’s Word and seek him with all your heart, Jesus will reveal himself to you.

Please take a moment to say this prayer……

Our Father, help us to study your Word and to apply it in our daily lives. Open our eyes, Lord on our journey, as we travel on the road to seeing Jesus. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.