Faces Downcast

Luke 24:

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

These verses are referring to the time when Jesus appeared+after his resurrection, and because of their sadness, the men to whom he appeared did not recognize him. 

Jesus asks the guys what it is that they’re talking about, and they are so downcast, they just answer without really looking at Jesus.  In fact, they assume that Jesus must have been living in a cave, if he had not heard the news that the promised Messiah was dead.

There are times when we totally feel like God is unaware of our circumstances.  But God sees that we are totally unaware of his presence.

Had the guys looked up and gazed in Jesus’ face, I believe they would have realized who it was that was walking beside them, in the middle of their grief.  In fact, the reason for the grief no longer existed – Jesus was very much alive!

Walking with a downcast spirit enables us to only see what’s “down there” beneath us – brown dirt and dirty feet – from all of our walking along feeling alone. 

We have to choose to look up and gaze in his face, realize that He has never left us alone and will never leave us alone, and then we can experience his presence.

How do we actually do this?

When news travels to our ears and homes that turns us on a downward path, we need to make sure we’re walking alongside someone that’s looking at the face of Jesus, seeing him present in the darkest of times.

Jesus appeared to these men in their darkest, most hopeless moment, with the news that He was alive and well.

Knowing that Jesus is with us, that he is certainly aware of whatever news we’ve just heard, is comforting.  But not only is he with us, he is present with all of his glory and power that raised him from the dead, and he is able to lift us up.

What are you talking about today?  Do you realize He's there?