Minds Opened

“And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” (Luke 24:27)

This passage in Luke occurred after the resurrection of Jesus when He joined Himself to two disciples walking to Emmaus. Jesus asks them questions. They were discussing all the things that had happened in Jerusalem and Jesus asks, in other words: What are you talking about that makes you so sad? They’re astounded that He’s not aware of what’s happened. Jesus probes them further asking about what happened. Here we see an example of the disciples still not truly understanding that Jesus is God. The Scripture tells us that their eyes were held or as the KJV reads “holden” which means seized or retained so they couldn’t recognize Him. (Luke 24:16) They speak of Jesus as a man, a prophet who was going to redeem Israel. They are thinking in natural terms. They also explain that a big problem has arisen. The body was not in the tomb and women had seen angels that said He was alive. (Luke 24: 15-24) And knowing all that, they still didn’t understand. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus calls them fools for not reading the prophets. But although the Greek word was translated fools, it actually means inconsiderate, unthinking or thoughtless. (Luke 24:25)

Such was and still is the lack of understanding in Judaism. They don’t read the prophets, only the Torah, the first five books of the Scriptures. This started with the Pharisees and Sadducees who adhered strictly to the Torah. Today they also follow the Talmud which are writings from the third through fifth century of oral teachings that were written from the Torah. This is why they missed their Messiah. The prophets are the ones who were given details of the coming Messiah that they missed. But the knowledge that there was a Messiah, a Savior Who would come had been known since the fall of man. (Genesis 3:15)

Jesus walks with these two disciples, which are unidentified and teaches them about the Messiah from Moses to the Prophets, but it wasn’t until He stayed with them and broke bread with them that their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus. These prophecies begin with Deuteronomy 18:15-22. Luke and Peter refer to this text as prophetic about the Messiah in Acts 3:22,23 that He would be one raised from among them which refers to Jesus being all man. But His divinity is also mentioned that those who don’t obey His Word will be destroyed. “For Moses truly said to the fathers, "The Lord your God shall raise up a Prophet to you from your brothers, One like me. You shall hear Him in all things, whatever He may say to you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the people."(Act 3:22-23) So the nation knew of a Savior Who would redeem them. I’m not familiar with what they were expecting, but they certainly did not expect this Savior to be born in a stable and to lead an ordinary life in an ordinary family among them, even though Moses did declare that He would be raised from their people.

The Word of God is alive. “For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) I can’t imagine the anointing these two disciples felt as Jesus expounded the Scriptures about Himself. “And they said to one another, Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us by the way and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32) The rest of the disciples and apostles were in the same frame of mind. They were confused and totally disillusioned. Jesus had talked about His kingdom. Now, in their minds, the hope of “His” kingdom was gone. They were still thinking in natural terms fully missing what Jesus had been talking about. And that is how it is with everyone in this world and yes, even some Christians. They steer far from the supernatural, thinking this mysterious realm has nothing to do with Christ. But the truth is that Jesus is the supernatural. What the devil produces is just an imitation of God’s supernatural.  It’s a poor imitation because it can’t be sustained by people on earth. It destroys them, while God’s supernatural world gives hope, joy, light and eternal life.

But when Jesus meets with the disciples, He opens their minds to understand spiritual things. “And He opened their mind to understand the Scriptures. And He said to them, So it is written, and so it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be proclaimed in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of My father on you. But you sit in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:45-49) We are astounded that unbelievers can’t understand the Gospel. We need to know that unless the Lord opens up their minds, they will not understand the spiritual things of the Gospel.

In short, the disciples and apostles were just like us. They were given a great task, but until God opened their minds and they received the power of the Holy Spirit, they didn’t understand nor were they able to accomplish all that they did. Which is a great lesson for us. We think of the apostles as such great men of God, but as followers of Jesus, we also need our minds opened and the power of the Holy Spirit to fit into God’s plan for us. The Lord has great plans for us. “For I know the purposes which I am purposing for you, says Jehovah; purposes of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Our minds are so incapable of knowing all God can do through us. The Lord tells us we can’t even imagine. “But as it is written, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard," nor has it entered into the heart of man, "the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (1Corinthians 2:9)

Let us pray:

Father God, You are so wonderful. We think we know about You, Your world and eternity, but we have no idea of how great and magnificent it really is. My mind can’t conceive it. But just knowing it’s better than what I can imagine gives me hope and joy. Forgive my worldliness Lord. Forgive me when I think of things concerning You in this world’s terms. You are far from anything in this world in goodness, mercy and love. Thank You for loving me beyond what I can understand. I ask You Lord to open my mind to You, to Your Word, to Your works and to Your world of eternity. Open my mind to Your love which loves Your enemies and waits patiently for them to realize that they need You. Open my heart to Your kind of love to love even my enemies. Open my mind to understand Your work on this earth. Open my eyes to Your Word and promises of Your Will and faithfulness. Open my ears to Your voice. Help me to hear Your voice and no other. I love You my Lord. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.