8-25-2017

 Good Morning All,

                       Luke 24: 45; “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures”

     There are many verses in the Bible that, though not hugely significant in terms of our theology, really intrigue my mind.  This is one of those verses of Scriptures.  It occurs after Jesus’ resurrection and has Jesus teaching the disciples.  He starts by telling them “these are the words that I spoke and this is what the Psalms and the Prophets and the books of Moses say about me” and then he begins to teach them in a way that “opens their minds.”

    Have you ever listened to someone who has such a clear understanding of the subject matter at hand that listening and talking with them really opens your eyes and your mind to looking at the subject in a new way?  I have had this wondrous experience a few times.  I always marvel when I experience it or later on when I think about it.  These people have a knack or a method about them that seems almost “folksy”; they rarely seem or act in some sort of professorial manner.  They never seem to act in a demeaning or condescending manner.  They never seem to be exasperated when they talk about the subject that they love and know so much about.  The amazing thing is how they simply lay the facts out and weave them into an intricate story that seems to complete itself.  As they discuss, any question doesn’t throw them off their speech as it does to someone who is giving a canned presentation.  You can almost hear the love and the reverence they feel for the subject at hand.

    What would that have been like, to be one of the disciples, as Jesus “opened their minds to understand Scriptures?”  Remember that often times during the three ministry of Jesus; they were confused and didn’t really understand what was going on.  They knew it was big and life changing but not to the degree that Jesus really changed everyone’s life.  Before they pretty much just muddled through but now, now their minds were being opened and the clarity would set in.  The deeper meanings of the messianic prophecies would make sense now.  David’s psalms would have new and renewed meaning.  All the Old Testament was designed to point to Jesus as the Son of God who would redeem mankind through his death on a cross.  The coming of Jesus began the kingdom of God reclaiming creation from the devil.  The empty tomb meant that death was no longer the great enemy which always won; it was now just a door to heaven until Christ returns and completes what he began at Calvary. 

   “He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”  He did it for the disciples and his Spirit offers to us the same benefit.  He opens up his loving forgiveness and his eternal grace and mercy.  He opens up life everlasting and he opens our hearts to trusting his loving promise and offer of peace.  He opened the minds of the disciples; let him open yours as well.

Father in heaven, open our minds to the certainty of the knowledge of your wonderful forgiveness.  Open our minds to seeing the truth in your love.  Open our spirits to cling only to your mercy. Open our hearts that we might go forth sharing that same love with those we meet.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret