¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶ but they were kept from recognizing him.
¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
¹⁹ “What things?” he asked.
- Luke 24:15-19
 
On Easter Sunday, Jesus had been raised from the dead, but his followers and friends were still deciding if they were going to believe the news. How would you help these folks believe that Jesus was alive?
 
Jesus met a pair of these disciples as they journeyed out of Jerusalem, inserting himself into their conversation and joining their traveling party. At the end of this scene, both of these followers of Jesus would believe that Jesus had died and returned from the dead. How did he do it?
 
People in the ancient world had a great familiarity with death. These were the days before formal hospital systems, hospices, or funeral homes. People died at home much more often than they do today. Soldiers saw, smelled, and touched the bodies of their enemies and friends after a battle. Criminals executed by the state were left hanging on crosses or from trees.
 
Everyone knew what death looked like. And everyone knew that death was final.
 
People didn’t just come back from the dead. Jesus’ disciples never expected to see him alive again. They didn’t recognize him when he walked and talked with him. They spent hours with him but remained in the dark. They shared about their disappointment and the collapse of all their hopes, and yet still didn’t realize that they were walking and talking with Jesus.
 
Let your imagination run today. What do you think it would take for you to believe that Jesus was alive if you were one of those original disciples? Why do you think his presence wasn’t enough?