Jesus Waits for our Invitation

Luke 24:13-29 tells the story of 2 disciples leaving Jerusalem 3 days after the crucifixion of Jesus. They are 7 miles outside of Jerusalem walking down the road to Emmaus discussing everything that has happened. They encounter a man on the road, who appears to have no knowledge of the events. They share everything they had witnessed.  Then this same man tells them that they are slow of heart to believe and shares every prophecy that was ever made regarding Jesus.  Soon after, they reach the village and the man acted as though He were going farther. But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us...”

If you know this story, you know the man was Jesus himself. The men were kept from recognizing him.  In this story, Jesus had risen from the grave earlier that day and yet he does not force himself on anyone. He lays out the truth before the men and keeps walking. He leaves them with a choice and this day they choose Him. They urge him to come to their home.

I recently read the book, “Tortured for Christ” by Richard Wurmbrand. He tells of preaching the good news of Jesus in communist countries. One story he told, not of torture, but of a man’s conversion touched my heart and made me think. The man’s name is Piotr (Peter) and he was 20 when he heard the story of Jesus. Piotr had grown up under communist rule. He had been told what to like, what to dislike, what to do and what to believe. There had been no choice in his first 20 years of life. Upon his conversion, he was asked what verse in the Bible most influenced him to come to Christ. He said, “Luke 24:28 because, as the two disciples drew near to the village, He[Jesus]indicated that He would have gone farther”. Piotr said, “ Jesus is polite. He wished to be very sure that He was desired. When He saw that He was welcomed, He gladly entered the house with them. In contrast, the communists are impolite. They enter by violence into our hearts and minds. They force us to listen to them from morning to late in the night. They do it with our schools, radio, newspapers, posters, movies and atheistic meetings with godless propaganda everywhere we turn. Jesus respects our freedom. He gently knocks at the door of our heart.”

After Piotrs’ conversion he repeatedly risked life and liberty to smuggle Christian literature in for the underground church. His brothers and sisters witnessed so much evil from Satan through communistic brainwashing and torture of their friends and family they vowed not to let Satan enter even 1% of their heart. They are completely devoted to Christ.  

In our neighborhoods, in America, with much freedom and the ability to worship without being arrested, we must not take this freedom for granted. There is a war between Jesus and Satan. Let’s join our persecuted brethren and stand up for Jesus, always.

Rev 3: 20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”

Terry Smith
Stephenville, TX