My husband immensely enjoys teasing me and will at times try to get me to believe something that is not at all true. The longer he can keep me believing whatever ridiculous thing he has said, the better, in his opinion. Inevitably our conversation goes something like:

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Him: [Ridiculous false statement]

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Me: “No stinking way! Are you serious?”

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Him: [Doubling down on statement, maybe worded slightly different]

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Me: Catching subtle differences and finally calling him on his bluff after spying a slight smirk.  

“You liar! I knew it!”  

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Him: Poking fun at how long the above conversation was repeated before I grabbed reality and called it out.  

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We likely all have at least one “I knew it!” moment, whether it be a movie plot twist suspected then revealed, or a childhood myth proven false. I love those “Aha” moments that make you feel vindicated, as if there was some mystery you solved before anyone else knew the truth. As we have been exploring some questions in Scripture, this one may not be a “tough” question; but it may be one you’re afraid to ask for fear of sounding crazy. You may indeed sound a little funny talking about how you “just know” things. Today’s Scripture is one of those “I knew it” moments that begs the question, how?  

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After the resurrection, two followers were walking toward the village of Emmaus and Jesus appeared to them, although Scripture says they were kept from recognizing Him. In distress, they continued speaking of the happenings of the last few days, the crucifixion, and they were convinced Jesus was the only person in the entire vicinity of Jerusalem that didn’t know what had happened. When they finished with reports of the resurrection, Jesus speaks and revisits how the prophets’ statements throughout history had pointed to his coming and suffering and why it was needed. It wasn’t until they convinced Jesus to stay with them in the village and dine with them, and He broke bread, that their eyes were opened. They saw that He was indeed Jesus, resurrected. Today’s Scripture indicates that these men, although they didn’t recognize Him right away, had something burning in their hearts with the recognition of the Truth.

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Like the above story, my guess is that you’ve likely nodded along during a sermon at some point, not knowing the specific Scripture by heart or why you know what is being spoken is the Truth, you just know. The Bible states that the Holy Spirit is the way in which God reveals Himself to us. 1 Corinthians 2:10 says, “These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.” John 14:26 states, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”  As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts that we might know the Truth when we hear it. It may be something you heard as a child and never again since, but the Holy Spirit flagged it as Truth in your heart.

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We don’t know why Jesus’ identity was kept from the men on the road to Emmaus, but there is one line at the end of this story that I believe solidifies God’s faithfulness in revealing himself. Verse 35 tells us, “Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.” Jesus, whose body was likened to bread in Luke 22, broken for us, and for whom we are to “do this in remembrance of,” was, in that moment “remembered.” John 16:13 says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you...” The Holy Spirit reveals the Truth and is the confirmation when our hearts question. So, when you’re wondering how your heart is burning within you even before a truth has been revealed, it is the Spirit of God in you, always working, revealing, and opening mysteries in Scripture to you, so you might have confidence that you “knew it!”

Do you have that burning in your heart? Maybe you’re new to your faith and desire to know Truth. Maybe you’re not so new to the faith and feel a little funny “just knowing” things. It is my prayer that we would move forward in boldness and confidence of the Spirit of God at work in us that we may know and recognize Truth when we hear it.

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Lord, I am so thankful for your Spirit revealing Truth. You are so kind, and actually a lot of fun, revealing yourself to us in such a way that we know You before Your mysteries are revealed. We ask that You help us to trust Your spirit in us, that we may rely on You daily. Let our hearts burn within us so we may say in confidence in You, we “knew it!” Amen.