Now You See Him, Now You Don't

I love to watch Disney movies, do you? What is your favorite Disney movie? (Give the children a time to answer.) One of my favorite Disney movies is "Now You See Him, Now You Don't". It's a funny movie about a college student who developed a secret formula that you could spray on objects, even people, and make them disappear. In the movie, a gang of crooks tries to steal the formula to help them rob banks. It is a very funny movie.

Of course, there is no secret formula that can make things disappear and reappear, but there is an event in the Bible where Jesus made himself appear and disappear to his followers. It is a very interesting story and every bit of it is true!

After Jesus was crucified and had risen from the dead, his followers were very sad and confused. They didn't know what was going to happen next. One day two of Jesus' followers were walking to the village of Emmaus. As they walked along, Jesus came and began walking with them, but God kept them from recognizing him.

As they walked, they discussed all of the things that had happened. As they came near to Emmaus, it was late in the day so they asked the stranger who had been walking with them to stay the night with them. So Jesus went to their home. As they sat down to eat, Jesus took the bread and blessed it and gave it to them to eat. Suddenly, their eyes were opened and they recognized him. At that very moment, he disappeared!

The two followers went back to Jerusalem and found the eleven disciples and others who had gathered with them. They told them the story about how Jesus had appeared to them as they traveled to Emmaus and how they had recognized him as he was breaking bread. Just as they were telling them about it, Jesus himself appeared and stood among them. The whole group was frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!

"Why are you frightened?" Jesus asked. "Look at my hands and feet. You can see that it is really me. Touch me and be assured that I am not a ghost."

Isn't that a wonderful story? Would you like for Jesus to reveal himself to you? Well, Jesus still reveals himself to his followers today, but he does it through his Word and the Holy Spirit. He may not appear to you in the same way he did to the disciples in our Bible lesson today, but if you study God's Word and seek him with all your heart, Jesus will reveal himself to you.

Our Father, help us to study your Word and to apply it in our daily life. Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.