This message focuses on the question: "How are minds opened today?", which is part of our ongoing series: "What's the answer?"

Pastor explores how people's lives are changed and what changes their attitudes about God, about Jesus, the resurrection, and about the power of God's Word.

Pastor takes us through Luke 24:36-47, an encounter with Jesus that His disciples have with Him after His resurrection. Jesus tells 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." Luke 24:44. He tells them everything written there points to Him.

Then next verse says, "Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." How did Jesus do that? Let's look at Luke's clues …

Law of Moses

Passover Lamb - Exodus 12. As protection from the tenth plague God told them He would passover their homes if they would take a lamb without spot or blemish, kill it, spread its blood on the doorposts of their homes, then roast and eat the lamb.

In Luke 22:15-16 Jesus tells His disciples: "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." What He is saying about the Passover is that HE is the one that will fulfill it as The Passover Lamb. The Passover is a preview of God's redemption through the shed blood of Jesus.

Blood of the Covenant - Exodus 24. Moses built an altar at the foot of Mt. Sinai and the Israelites pledged to follow God. Moses took the blood of bulls, sprinkled it on the altar and the people saying, "This is the blood of the Covenant that the Lord has made with you…" Exodus 24:8. What this is, again, is a preview of the coming Christ and the fulfillment being found in Him.

Luke 22:20 Jesus says, "This cup (passover meal glass of wine) is the New Covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you." This is just what Moses was showing was coming in Jesus.

Prophets

New Covenant - Jeremiah 31:31. God said that the days were coming when He would make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah and put His law in their minds and hearts and change them from the inside out! A Heart change!"

Jesus says, "This cup is the New Covenant!" Luke 22:20 Meaning He is the New Covenant.

Suffering Servant - Isaiah 53. "He was despised… He was pierced for our transgressions… the punishment that brought us peace was on Him… by His wounds we are healed… the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all… it was the Lord's will to crush Him… to make His life an offering for sin… He will see the light of Life (raised)… He poured out His life unto death and numbered with the transgressors."

In Luke 22:37 Jesus says, "It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors' and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me." He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament words.

Psalms

Crucified Victim - Psalm 22. "My God, My God why have you forsaken me?… hands pierced… lots cast for his clothing…"

Jesus speaks these very words from the cross: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me."
Luke 23:34 we read, "and they divided up His clothes by casting lots." Jesus is the fulfillment of the words in the psalms.

David's Lord - Psalm 110. David wrote of the Messiah, "The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand while I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."

Luke 20:41-44 We see Jesus using these very words to describe Himself.

How are minds opened today? The same way today they were then:

Encountering Jesus and seeing Him as the Risen Christ. The risen Jesus transforms people minds and brings relationship with the Living God.
Encountering the Scriptures and seeing Jesus as the fulfillment of everything written about the Messiah in the Law, Prophets and Psalms. Encountering the scriptures changes us as we read them.
Encountering the Holy Spirit. No one can believe without the Holy Spirit.

Luke 24 concludes with "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Today those words of Jesus continue to be fulfilled!

God our Father desires we repent and turn to Him so that our minds may be opened and our lives renewed forever.

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Questions - Week 23: How Are Minds Opened Today?