In (Luke
24:13-35) on the road to Emmaus, right after the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
the resurrected Jesus joined Himself in walking with two of His disciples on
that way. These disciples didn't recognise that it was Jesus walking with them
on the way. "That very day two of them were going to a village named
Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other
about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing
together, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept
from recognizing Him", (Luke 24:13-16).
Why the two
disciples recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread and not in the teaching
and exposition of the scripture on their way to Emmaus might have been designed
to be so for our learning. However, the disciples might have got used to how
often they had seen Him break bread. Jesus often brought down the wrath of the
religious elite upon Himself because of His dietary customs. He ate food with
sinners and tax collectors in violation of the sanctimonious taboos of His day.
He would refuse to send His followers away until they had been fed. His
followers had seen him take a little boy’s lunch of two fishes and five loaves,
bless this food, break it, and then distribute it to a throng of people that
numbered in thousands. It is easy to recognise Jesus, a generous Friend like no
other, a Lover of humanity, the Bread of Life, One ready to abide with us at
the slightest invitation. Jesus had taught His disciples that when they fed
another who was hungry, it was as though they were doing it to Him. These were
among the flood of memories these disciples brought with them to the table at
Emmaus. Maybe it is no wonder they recognized Him in action, perhaps their
little bread became big enough for all three of them after Jesus blessed it.
To start the
New Year 2021 Prophet TB Joshua in his usual characteristic went to a solitary
mountain to pray and communing with God at a mountain. The prophet went up the
mountain seeking the face of God for divine intervention on the cure for the
afflictions currently facing the entire world. Prophet TB Joshua has both
compassion and empathy for the general human race. The result of his prayer at
the mountain is that he has been mandated to release some messages in addition
to releasing some faith materials for the year 2021; the New Anointing Water
and the New Anointing sticker, tagged “Not Mine But God’s Own.” Those of us
following TB Joshua would be able to recognise him more by his actions, by his
laying of hands, generous giving, etc, and not just the excellent teachings the
Televangelist gives his global listeners daily. People will keep coming up to
Prophet TB Joshua for prayer and to build their faith because the prophet is
realistic and practical. While the rich world is investing heavily in vaccines
the prophet is praying and investing in faith-building materials.
The question
to ask ourselves is whether our actions have ever helped others to recognize
Jesus today. Whether we carry the mark of Jesus Christ. Whether we are willing
to be clothed with the "Promise of the Father" to witness for Jesus
in our chaotic world. James (James 2:15- 16) said: "If a brother or sister
is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go and be
filled', without giving them the things they needed for the body, what does it
profit?" If anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet
closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? (1 John 3:17).
Luke told the story in his gospel “of all that Jesus began to do and teach”
(Acts 1:1). In emulating Jesus Christ, or even His prophet TB Joshua, each
person must go out and labour for Jesus this New Year, because we are going to
be known more by our work in action as the field, is ripe for harvest.
Emmanuel.
Prof. R. A.
Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
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