Opened Minds
Don’t think about this in the regular way.
This is irregular. Not humanly possible.
As Jesus stood among the still startled disciples, He spoke to them. Then He opened their minds. It’s not what we think of when we hear the phrase open minded. When you and I hear “open minded” we think of someone being open to new ideas and opinions.
This is not what Jesus did for His disciples.
“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. “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Luke 24:44-49
When we trust in Jesus great things happen.
Do not think of great things as related to earthly activity.
Think of eternal things-things unseen.
Consider the great things that came upon the disciples during those moments:
1. Jesus came among them. Their fears were gone. Their worries ended.
2. Jesus spoke to them. He gave them ability to understand the Bible. Jesus “opened their
minds” so that when they heard or read the Bible-they understood what it meant.
3. Jesus enabled them to understand that every event which had happened to Him was planned long ago. They understood God’s plan to save us from our sins. They saw how unbelievably good the love of God for us truly is. THE LOVE OF GOD IS BETTER THAN ANY EARTHLY THING WE CAN SEE, POSSESS, OWN, OR DESIRE. On this day the disciples fully understood this truth. They were NEVER the same.
4. Jesus told them again-this time they understood-“There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.”
5. He told them one other thing: “Stay in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” God’s Holy Spirit is another of the unseen great things the love of God bring to us. The Holy Spirit of God is able to come into the hearts and minds of all who believe in Jesus. Don’t ask me how-God does that-but the Holy Spirit of God brings the power and love of God into the hearts and minds of those who believe in Jesus. Only God does such miraculous things. Need proof that God’s Holy Spirit changes people? Open your Bible to the book of Acts...read what happened to the disciples.
Now apply this passage to your life...as I apply it to mine.
*Do we think Jesus could only open the minds of the disciples? Do we think that He would only come among the disciples? Do we think he could not find us where we are?
Jesus comes to where we are...today. He removes our fears, doubts and most important-our sins. *He gives the same ability to understand the Bible to us…He “opens our minds.”
*He gives us forgiveness of our sins when we repent of them. This is the greatest gift! *When we believe in Him-we are given by God-The Holy Spirit. This is not mystical mumbo jumbo...this is God at work, the Creator of the universe entering our lives.
Can Jesus open our minds?
Yes.
He opens our minds to understand the Bible.
It’s not difficult for Him, He made the human mind.
And only He can take away our sin.