OPEN MY MIND
Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things.”
Luke 24:44-48 (NLT)
After He had risen from the dead, Jesus reminded His disciples of statements He had made before He sacrificed Himself on the cross. He affirmed the sacredness of the Old Testament Scriptures, referring to the law of Moses (the first five books of the Bible), as well as the prophets and the Psalms (the rest of the Old Testament books). He helped them see that the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament prophesied many years earlier about specific aspects of the Messiah that were fulfilled in the life of Jesus. One of those key elements was the fact that the Messiah would suffer and die for our sins, then rise from the dead on the third day. Some of these prophecies can be found in Hosea 6:2, Psalm 16:10, and Isaiah 53:6. Jesus helped them understand that His death and resurrection made forgiveness for sins available to all who would repent.
Why didn’t the disciples understand these truths before Jesus explained them? I realize I often don’t recognize or understand obvious things around me unless someone points them out. I remember an instance when I was sitting on the couch watching a football game when my wife walked by, asked if I wanted some cookies, baked them in the kitchen, then served them to me on a tray. It wasn’t until she said, Look at me, that I realized she had been wearing a ski mask during that whole process.
The Spirit of Jesus is available to speak to us today. As we read Scripture, His Spirit wants to reveal the life-giving truth Jesus wants us to see.
APPLICATION: As you read portions of the Bible, ask God’s Spirit to reveal what He wants you to know.
PRAYER: Father, thank You for giving us Your thoughts through the Bible. Please reveal what You want me to see and help me understand what You’re saying. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?