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| Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures. Lk 24.44-53 |
Lk 24.44-53 (study 108)
a. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Luke concluded his gospel account climatically. In v1-12, he has reported the empty tomb and the majestic message of the angels that the crucified Saviour is risen.
- In the next two paragraphs, v13-35, he related
the appearance of the resurrected Lord himself to the men walking from
Jerusalem to Emmaus, and Simon Peter. Then in v36-43, Luke describes the
appearance of the risen Lord to an entire group of disciples.
- Remember that the resurrected Lord Jesus
Christ remained on earth for 40 days before ascending to heaven. During these
40 days, the risen Saviour appeared many times to His disciples, Acts 1:1-3.
- Acts 1:3 tells us, “To whom also he showed
himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them
during forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of
God.”
- So it is evident that during those 40 days,
the risen Lord was busy ‘opening the understanding’ of the disciples so that
they might understand the Scriptures which has prophesied concerning the
coming, the ministry, the suffering, the death, and the resurrection of the
Messiah; and exhorting them to preach this glorious gospel of salvation in His
name, beginning at Jerusalem, even to the end of the world.
- Lk 24:44-49 is a summary account of what was said to the disciples over those 40 days. These words of the risen Lord set forth several vital principles for believers in every generation. Let us consider some of them
1. The Personal Presence of the Resurrected
Lord Jesus
a. No sooner had the two disciples reported
their encounter with the resurrected Lord to the gathered Apostles and others
with them, that Jesus Himself, in His grace and mercy and goodness to
disbelieving and troubled disciples, appeared and stood in their midst, and
saluted them, “Peace be unto you.” They were troubled!
- The disciples’ reaction: “But they were
terrified and affrighted supposed that they had seen a spirit.”
- They should be rejoicing seeing the risen
Lord BUT they were terrified and affrighted. Why?
b. They were still doubtful concerning the
risen Lord Jesus: “They supposed that they had seen a spirit.”
- They were still troubled. Doubtful thoughts
still arise from their hearts. The Lord sees through all.
- He came to minister to His beloved but
bewildered and troubled disciples. “Peace be unto you.” Amen.
- He demonstrated to them that He is really
the resurrected Jesus: “Behold my hands and feet…” Do you see those marks made
by the nails? Handle me and see for yourself.
- He reasoned with them, “… for a spirit hath
not flesh and bones…” He engaged their mind to deal with their genuine
concerns.
- “Have ye here any meat (food)? Why? A
spirit does not eat food; only a real person eats food; what they see is the
real personal resurrected Jesus. “He DID eat before them.” Do you still suppose
I’m a spirit?
2. The
Infallibility of the Inspired Word of God
a. Having demonstrated the reality of His
resurrection, Jesus went on to remind them of what He said unto them before in
His ministry. “… all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of
Moses, and the prophets and the psalms concerning Me.” Here the risen Lord
refers to the whole of the OT Scriptures.
- The risen Lord reminded the disciples that
all his preaching and teaching ministry before the crucifixion was grounded in
the OT Scriptures. The whole of the OT prophesied concerning the promised
Messiah.
- And all that is written in the OT must be
fulfilled, they must all come to pass, and all that had happened to Jesus
Christ was the fulfilment of the OT Scriptures.
- Lk 4:16-27 records for us the beginning of
Jesus’ public ministry… how in Him the OT Scriptures were fulfilled. And was
true throughout His whole ministry… and that was how he ended his earthly
ministry, constantly appealing to the OT Scriptures which speak of Him. Lk
20:41, 22:37.
- There is explicit trust in all that has
been written. There wasn’t the slightest doubt as to be their fulfilment. To
Him, it is always ‘all things must be fulfilled which were written…’ There is
absolute and complete trust in the infallibility of all that was written.
- And this is despite the fact that the
fulfilment of all that was written meant the greatest humiliation and agony
upon Himself. But even this did not deter Him.
3. The Necessity for the Illumination of the
Written Word
a. The disciples were all devout Jews who
read their Scriptures (OT): their parents faithfully taught them.
- See Deut 6:1-9. So the disciples were
familiar with the OT Scriptures.
- Then
opened he their understanding: He not only opened their hearts, to attend to
what he said, and the proofs he gave of his resurrection from the dead in a
true body; but he removed the veil from the eyes of their minds, and gave them
an understanding of the sacred writings, respecting this matter:
- that they might understand the Scriptures;
concerning his sufferings, death, and resurrection, which they were very
ignorant of before, and which were as a sealed book unto them, John 20:9 though
they had been from their infancy brought up to the reading of the Scriptures,
and had had the unique advantage of Christ's ministry for some years; which
shows the necessity of the special illumination of the Spirit, and the
influence of his grace to remove the darkness of the mind, and give the true
sense of the sacred writings.
- This demonstrates that the risen Lord
attached the utmost importance and necessity for His disciples to UNDERSTAND
the Scriptures.
- Do you have the same mind? Are you in tune
with the risen Lord?
c. “behoved”: it is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something. Jesus’ life and death in the stead of His people is at the heart of His mission as Messiah: His resurrection vindicates all His life and teachings.
4. The Responsibility to Preach the Fulfilled
Word
a. “Repentance and remission of sins should
be preached…”
- “… should be preached in His name.” Jesus has lived and died to save His people
from their sins. The Holy Spirit applies this salvation to each one of them
when God the Father effectually calls them out of their native state of sin and
death to that state of grace and salvation in Jesus Christ.
- Salvation is freely bestowed to them dead
in trespasses and sins; only those whom God has freely saved by His grace are
capable of repentance and experience the forgiveness of their sins.
- The risen Lord has ordained the gospel
ministry to bring the good news of His redemptive work to God’s children, that
they may be gathered into the NT churches and be instructed to observe ALL
THINGS whatsoever Christ has commanded us. See Mt 28:19-20. That requires
repentance from God’s children.
b. To all nations
- Jesus has redeemed His people out of every
kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; not just the Jews. Rev 5:9.
c. “Ye are witnesses of these things”:
d. The promised
assistance:
- “ye be endued with power from on high…” See
Mt 28:20 “even to the of world…” – of the Jewish world.
5. Return to His Father in Heaven v50-53
a. He blessed them and prepared them for
their unique ministry.
b. “… carried up into heaven.” After death, Jesus went to paradise; after resurrection, Jesus returned to heaven. See John 20:17
c. The effect of Jesus’ ministry to His disciples:
============
[14/03/2025 21:21]
Dear Brethren,
The midweek bible study series on Luke's
Gospel began on Wednesday, Feb 1, 2023, and concluded on Wednesday, Mar 12,
2025 with 108 studies during the period.
I wonder if the series has helped you.
What have you learned from the 108 studies?
Of the 108 studies, how many were you
present?
We can go through the motion but make no
progress.
Our hardworking men are already too tired...
dozing off.
I have been told not a few times that I am a
boring and poor communicator, sending the audience to sleep - probably a lot of
truth in that.
People put little effort on giving due importance to hearing and learning the word of God; this is completely opposite of Christ's will.
Notes from the last study:
Then
opened he their understanding:
- He not only opened their hearts, to attend
to what he said, and the proofs he gave of his resurrection from the dead in a
true body; but he removed the veil from the eyes of their minds, and gave them
an understanding of the sacred writings, respecting this matter:
- that they might understand the Scriptures;
concerning his sufferings, death, and resurrection, which they were very
ignorant of before, and which were as a sealed book unto them, John 20:9 though
they had been from their infancy brought up to the reading of the Scriptures,
and had had the unique advantage of Christ's ministry for some years; which
shows the necessity of the special illumination of the Spirit, and the influence
of his grace to remove the darkness of the mind, and give the true sense of the
sacred writings.
- This demonstrates that the risen Lord
attaches the utmost importance and necessity for His disciples to UNDERSTAND
the Scriptures.
- Do you have the same mind? Are you in tune
with the risen Lord?
