at Amazon.com.
Blessings to you, the readers of this page, in Jesus Christ our Lord. May He guide you and protect you always.
This is a very important concept to Christians, because it explains how it is that God permits such differences of belief to exist. He is simply letting us believe what we want to believe until such time as He makes everything clear.
The general concept is found in 1 Corinthians 13:12, where we get the idea of seeing things unclearly . . .
"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then
face to face: now I know in part; but then shall
I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians
13:14 KJV)
There are two good examples in the Bible where Jesus allowed
people not to recognize Him when He was right there with them.
Then, when He was ready, He opened their eyes and they could see
the truth.
The first example involved Mary Magdalene, who was perhaps His most devoted and closest follower. On the Sunday morning after he was killed, she went to the place where His body had been laid, and she was distraught to find that He was not there.
As she was weeping outside the sepulchre, she looked inside and saw two angels sitting where the body had been placed. Then Jesus appeared, but she thought He was the gardner. After a short while, He revealed Himself to her.
JOHN 20:13-16 (KJV)
13
And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou?
She saith unto them, Because they have taken away
my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back,
and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was
Jesus.
15
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom
seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener,
saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence,
tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him
away.
16
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and
saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
The second example happened on the road to Emmaus, near Jerusalem, when
two of His followers were walking along, discussing the crucifixion. He
appeared to them and talked with them a long time, but they did not
recognize it was Jesus. Finally, He opened their eyes and they knew who
He was.
LUKE 24: 13-31 (KJV)
13
And, behold, two of them went that same day to a
village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about
threescore furlongs.
14
And they talked together of all these things which
had happened.
15
And it came to pass, that, while they communed
together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and
went with them.
16
But their eyes were holden that they should not know
him.
17
And he said unto them, What manner of communications
are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk,
and are sad?
18
And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas,
answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in
Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are
come to pass there in these days?
19
And he said unto them, What things? And they said
unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a
prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all
the people:
20
And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered
him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21
But we trusted that it had been he which should have
redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the
third day since these things were done.
22
Yea, and certain women also of our company made us
astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23
And when they found not his body, they came, saying,
that they had also seen a vision of angels, which
said that he was alive.
24
And certain of them which were with us went to the
sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had
said: but him they saw not.
25
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to
believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and
to enter into his glory?
27
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he
expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things
concerning himself.
28
And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they
went: and he made as though he would have gone
further.
29
But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for
it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And
he went in to tarry with them.
30
And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he
took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to
them.
31
And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he
vanished out of their sight.
May the Lord bless this presentation of His holy Word.
Rev. Bill McGinnis <><
bmcgin@patriot.net
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