Luke 24:36-53
36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. [1]
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Do you have an open mind? That expression most often refers to a mind that welcomes new thoughts, new perspectives, and new possibilities.
Luke uses the phrase in a very specific sense in our passage today. After appearing to the disciples, Jesus “opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” Their minds had been closed, unable to comprehend the truth of the Scriptures, especially regarding Jesus, His identity and His mission. But Jesus opened their minds, enabling them to see the truths in Scriptures regarding himself. And in so doing He opened their minds to understand themselves as well, that they were His witnesses, participants in His mission.
This is a truly open mind, a mind open to the truths of God, as revealed in His Word.
But note that this is a gift of God, a work of Jesus for the sake of His mission. Jesus opened their minds not just to satisfy their curiosity, not for the purpose of impressing their friends with their Bible knowledge, and not even for the sake of their own personal spiritual fulfillment and growth. It was for the purpose of their part as His witnesses in bringing His name “to all nations beginning at Jerusalem.”
This passage encourages me to these two actions:
- To pray for Christ to open my mind whenever I approach the Scriptures so that I can rightly understand His truth
- To expect the truth of Scripture to lead me into living and participating in Christ’s mission.
Lord Jesus, open my mind to understand the Scriptures so that I may follow you as You lead me in Your mission.
What is the Word leading you to pray about today?
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[1] The New International Version. (2011). (Lk 24:36–53). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
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