Luke 24:42-53: a reflection

42They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43He took them, and ate in front of them. 44He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms concerning me must be fulfilled.” 45Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures. 46He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49Behold, I send out the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.” 50He led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51While he blessed them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

The risen Jesus appears to his disciples, eats with them to show he is truly raised, and then does something vital: he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. They had the Scriptures, and had heard them; but they had not truly understood how they spoke of Christ, of his suffering and rising. Jesus opened their minds to see it. Then he commissions them, and, blessing them, ascends into heaven; and they return to Jerusalem with great joy, worshiping and praising God.

Notice that the disciples needed Jesus to open their minds before they could understand the Scriptures. They were not lacking the text, or even familiarity with it; but they needed their minds opened to grasp its meaning, to see how it pointed to Christ. Understanding the Scriptures rightly was not merely a matter of reading, but of having their minds opened by Jesus himself. What they could not see on their own, he enabled them to see.

That points to something for us in our own reading of Scripture: that we need God to open our minds to understand it rightly. We can read the Scriptures, be familiar with them, and yet not truly grasp their meaning, not see how they point to Christ, unless God opens our understanding. Do not approach the Scriptures trusting only in your own reading; ask God to open your mind, as Jesus opened the disciples' minds, that you may understand. The same Jesus who opened their minds is able to open yours, to see what you could not see on your own. Come to the Scriptures asking God to open your understanding, that you may grasp their meaning and see how they point to Christ, rather than relying on your own reading alone. And when he opens your eyes to understand, may it fill you, as it filled the disciples, with worship and joy.

Lord Jesus, risen from the dead, you ate with your disciples and then opened their minds to understand the Scriptures; they had the text and had heard it, but needed you to open their minds to grasp how it spoke of you. Show me that I too need you to open my mind to understand your word rightly. I can read the Scriptures, be familiar with them, and yet not truly grasp their meaning, not see how they point to you, unless you open my understanding. Keep me from approaching the Scriptures trusting only in my own reading; help me ask you to open my mind, as you opened the disciples' minds, that I may understand. You, who opened their minds, are able to open mine, to see what I could not see on my own. Help me come to the Scriptures asking you to open my understanding, that I may grasp their meaning and see how they point to you, rather than relying on my own reading alone. And when you open my eyes to understand, may it fill me, as it filled the disciples, with worship and joy. Open my mind to your word, Lord.