“Opening The Mind To Understand The Scriptures!”

“Opening The Mind To Understand The Scriptures!”(Lk.24:36-49).
It is a normal reaction to be startled and frightened when you see a supposedly dead and buried relative. It doesn’t matter how deep was your love for that person, nor how much you wished he didn’t die, if you see him you would consider that it is a ghost.
This is what happened to the group as they were still listening to the disciples who were with Jesus on the Emmaus road. Jesus appeared and greeted them with “Peace be with you.” But “they were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.”
The risen Lord Jesus Christ wondered why they were troubled and why they had doubts in their minds. His resurrection was in physical form, he could not be a ghost. He encouraged them to touch him. He even asked for anything to eat. They gave him broiled fish which he ate.
“Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” Oh yes, everything is in the Scriptures and if your mind is not opened to it, you would not understand it.
May be we shouldn’t quickly blame the disciples for not understanding what was in the Scriptures. In as much as Jesus often cited the Scriptures, and as much as he told them what Scriptures say, he hardly orgarnized Bible study as we do today. The one time we are clear about, when he read from the Scriptures was when he read the scroll if the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue(Lk.4:17ff). That of couse does not mean he wasn’t reading the Scriptures. He was steeped in Scriptures.
While he was still alive he had told them that everything must be fulfilled that is written about him in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. (These were the three parts of the Hebrew Scriptures – Old Testament).
This time around he told them, “This is what is written:The Christ must suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem…”
He also assured them that he will send them the Holy Spirit whom the Father had promised. He asked them to stay in Jerusalem until they had been clothed with power from on high. And here is a pitfall for many who have been called to be evangelists. Sometimes we just plunge into the assignment without the waiting moment until we have been clothed with power from on high!
When our minds are opened to understand the Scriptures we come to know that the prediction of Christ’s death and resurrection should be complemented by our human response of repentance whose benefit is forgiveness.
Without repentance leading to forgiveness, his death and resurrection will be meaningless.
May we endeavour daily to open our minds to understand the Scriptures so that we can come to the full knowledge of Christ’s death and resurrection! And that by knowing the Holy Spirit should help us to do the needful!
Prayer: Holy Spirit open our minds to daily understand the Scriptures and do the needful. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.