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Day 355

Luke 24:44-53 "A GREAT CHALLENGE TO KNOW THE SCRIPTURES WELL"

Day 355 – Luke 24

Text: Luke 24:44-53

A GREAT CHALLENGE TO KNOW THE SCRIPTURES WELL

Twice, in one chapter, Luke noted that Jesus spent a considerable amount of time going over the Scriptures with His Disciples. He had taught all these lessons to His Disciples already, but obviously, they had not learned their lessons well. There is only one way to deal with this kind of a problem.

Jesus took time to teach Cleopas and his companion the Scriptures as they made their way to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32). He referred to “Moses and all the prophets” even as He opened their minds to discern the Word of God.

He now took time to teach His Disciples as a group just what the Scriptures taught concerning His suffering and resurrection. Let us consider what Jesus said,

“Then He said to them,
‘These are the words which I spoke to you
while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled
which were written in the Law of Moses,
and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me.’
And He opened their understanding, that they might
Comprehend the Scriptures.”
Luke 24:44-45

This time round, Luke noted that Jesus referred to another section of the Scriptures, called “The Psalms”. Just what had the Lord Jesus taught His Disciples during the three years that they had been with Him? From this single sentence, Jesus must have taught His Disciples a tremendous amount of knowledge. (The Jews divided the Scriptures into three sections, namely “The Law of Moses, The Prophets and the Psalms. Thus, Luke was in fact saying that Jesus taught His Disciples deep lessons from the entire range of Biblical literature. This does not mean that He referred to every single verse in the Old Testament, but that He made sufficient reference to these three sections of the Hebrew Scriptures to warrant mentioning all three segments).

THE OPENING OF THE UNDERSTANDING TO COMPREHEND THE SCRIPTURES

How does a person actually comprehend the Scriptures? In this particular reference we read of how Jesus “opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” How do we comprehend the Word of God, since Jesus no longer walks on earth with His disciples? Let us take a look at how understanding of the Scriptures may be derived.

1. The work of God the Father

Jesus Himself identified the work of His Father in opening the understanding of His disciples. He commented on this when Peter answered correctly that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

“Jesus answered and said to him,
‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah,
for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you,
but My Father who is in heaven.'”
Matthew 16:17

On another occasion, Jesus offered a spontaneous thanksgiving prayer to His Father, because His disciples showed comprehension of the truth.

“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said,
‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent
and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father for it seemed
good in Your sight…”
Luke 10:21

2. The work of the Lord Jesus Christ

There is no mistaking the crucial role that Jesus played in the teaching of His Disciples. He trained His Disciples well.

“A disciple is not above his teacher,
but everyone who is perfectly trained
will be like his teacher.”
Luke 6:40

On another occasion, Jesus explained to them the privilege that had been given to them as His disciples.

“He answered and said to them,
‘Because it has been given to you
to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,
but to them it has not been given.
For whoever has, to him more will be given,
And he will have abundance;
But whoever does not have, even what he has will
Be taken away from him.
Therefore I speak to them in parables,
Because seeing they do not see,
And hearing they do not hear,
Nor do they understand.

But blessed are your eyes for they see,
And your ears for they hear;
For assuredly, I say to you that many prophets
And righteous men desired to see what you see,
And did not see it, and to hear what you hear,
And did not hear it.”
Matthew 13:11-13, 16-17

What a privilege it was for the Disciples of Jesus to have Jesus as their Teacher!

3. The Role of the Spirit of God as Teacher

Jesus anticipated the time when He would no longer walk on earth. However, He promised His Disciples that they need not feel that they are orphans. He would provide for them “another Helper”.

“And I will pray the Father,
and He will give you another Helper,
that He may abide with you forever –
the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive,
because it neither sees Him, nor knows Him;
but you know Him; for He dwells with you
and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans;
I will come to you.

These things I have spoken to you
While being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit,
Whom the Father will send in My Name,
He will teach you all things,
And bring to remembrance all things
That I said to you.”
John 14:16-18, 25-26

After the Ascension of the Lord Jesus, and after Pentecost when the Holy Spirit’s ministry was inaugurated, we now have the full operation of the Spirit of God in our hearts. The world does not know Him, but all true believers recognize the role of the Holy Spirit as Teacher.

Jesus went on to encourage His Disciples with these words about the Holy Spirit. He said,

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come,
He will guide you into all truth; for He will not
Speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears
He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine
And declare it to you.”
John 16:13-15

OUR ROLE IN RESPONSE TO THE TEACHING OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD

Let us be reminded of what Jesus taught His disciples concerning how they could obtain maximum benefit from their study of the Lord’s Word.

“Therefore take heed how you hear,
for whoever has, to him more will be given;
and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have
will be taken from him.”
Luke 8:18

Let’s do our part in paying close attention to the study of the Scriptures.