He Walks With the Unnamed

It was still the same day Jesus rose from the dead.

But not everyone knew it yet.

Two disciples were walking away from Jerusalem. One of them is named Cleopas. The other? We don’t know. Their name isn’t mentioned.

All we know is that they were discouraged and confused. They had hoped Jesus was the one who would redeem Israel, but now it felt like everything had fallen apart.

“They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them.”
—Luke 24:14–15

They didn’t recognize Him.
But He walked with them anyway.

That’s the part that stood out to me this morning.

Jesus didn’t wait until they figured it all out.
He didn’t show up once they had the right answers or a solid plan.
He met them right where they were. In their doubt. In their confusion. Even as they were heading in the wrong direction.

And honestly? That’s good news.

Because we all have days where we feel like we’re going the wrong way.
Or we’re wrestling with questions we didn’t expect to have.
Or we’re just trying to make sense of life after the high of Easter Sunday.

Jesus walks with us through all of that too.

Eventually, they recognized Him.
It happened later, around a table, when He broke the bread.
And they looked at each other and said:

“Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Sometimes you feel it before you fully see it.
Sometimes you sense His nearness before you understand what He’s doing.
Sometimes your heart knows He’s with you even when your mind isn’t sure yet.

That’s grace.

Jesus still walks with the unnamed.
With the ones who are discouraged.
With the ones who feel lost.
With the ones who aren’t sure what’s next.

He walks with you.

Even when you don’t recognize Him right away.

A Prayer for Today

Jesus, thank You for walking with me even when I don’t see it.
When I’m uncertain or distracted or discouraged, help me slow down enough to notice You.
Speak to my heart.
Open my eyes.
And remind me I’m never walking alone.
Amen.