"...their eyes were opened, and they recognized him..."Didn't our hearts feel strangely warm as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?" Luke 24:31 & 32.Two followers of Jesus walking towards Emmaus were in deep discussion about the events of the past 3 days when Jesus joined them--a stranger at that point. He reminded them that all that had happened was the fulfillment of scripture. Only when he broke the bread when they stopped for the evening meal did they recognize Jesus. Then he disappeared.
In the 40 days following Jesus' death prior to his ascension, Jesus was actively revealing his identity to believers. Jewish historian Josephus and later Eusebius fill in some of the details.
Paul's experience of meeting Jesus was significantly different. He was on his way to Damascus to persecute believers. God had special plans for Paul(then Saul). He stopped him in his tracks, blinded him and spoke to him. God dramatically opened not only his physical eyes but his spiritual eyes.
In Pakistan we had the privilege of fellowshipping with Qureshi. See "The Peanut Butter Man". He opened up his own mosque and led prayers for the faithful. God placed a hunger in his heart to read the Injil(NT). He went to visit a missionary whom he had heard about. The short of it was, he met Jesus. He was like the Apostle Paul...fearless and intense. For him it was an Emmaus Road experience--a journey and not an instant conversion. And this is the story of all the believers I know. God got their attention and they never let go. Some even became mentally ill over the dilemma of being so intensely drawn to Christ but knowing the cost of following Jesus. Worldwide believers are persecuted and intensely bullied.Lately several experiences have encouraged me that God is still at work in specific Muslims from a broad spectrum of people. God somehow hand-picked individuals to proclaim the Good News to their people. Qureshi boldly proclaimed Jesus to Muslim leaders--the Pharisees of his day. Afghan martyr Zia also boldly proclaimed Jesus, penned many of the first Dari hymns and helped translate scriptures. His witness was powerful.
No amount of jamming the satellite transmissions or shutting down website access can deter the work of God's spirit. This past year showed me 2 or 3 individuals in whose heart God has been at work. They tell of an unquenchable search for truth. One of my friends in his homeland where Muslims are banned from having a Bible and from entering a church checked out the Bible in the library. He was completely disillusioned with Islam and was moving towards becoming an atheist. God had mercy on him and brought him to a place where he could freely explore the Christian faith.
You and I may well have a part in the 'Emmaus journey' that some Muslim friends are on...or even a dramatic Damascus Road encounter! When we are open about our faith with Muslims it soon becomes evident whether they are ready to hear more. Isn't it exciting to be part of a Muslim's faith journey?
Dear Jesus, show me how to encourage Muslims in search of you. Amen.
“Thou hast made us for thyself, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” -Augustine
