Good morning! Thank you for reading. I pray all is well.
We are continuing our journey with Jesus today, joining our Savior as he appears to the disciples. We know from last week that Jesus had appeared to Cleopas and his friend on the way to Emmaus. These two had a revelatory walk together with Jesus (whom they did not recognize at the time), personal teachings that explained Jesus’ place in the Scriptures, a meal with Jesus, with Jesus himself breaking the bread, and then Jesus finally revealing his identity, Cleopas and his friend had a complete day. But, due to the stirring of their spirits from all of these events, they returned immediately back to Jerusalem. They had to share the good news.
This is the perfect place to begin for us today: Excited Christians, so excited, that they have to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
Well, after two thousand and some odd years, for some of us, the excitement has worn off. We can use the obvious excuse that we’ve gotten older, our health isn’t what it once was, we don’t have the energy, etc, etc. But I believe that our excitement in sharing the Good News of Christ should never wear out.
So, to see what so excited Cleopas and his friend in the Scripture teaching from Jesus, I thought that we’d look at what Bible verses the Bible says were the references that Christ used in what is today’s Old Testament.
But first, let’s set the scene, because there are a great deal of things happening quickly.
Cleopas and his friend go back to Jerusalem late that evening and visit with the Eleven. They all share their different testimonies with one another, all pointing to the fact that the tomb is empty. Jesus is indeed alive. Despite all the good news concerning Jesus being risen the doors are still locked in fear that the disciples may be carted off to their own personal crucifixions. They are still nervous. Luke 24:36,
“While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’”
Everytime I read this verse, it seems to me that Jesus is, in a way, toying with his disciples. I know he’s not, but to me, it just seems like the perfect gag. Luke 24:37-43,
“They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.’
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, ‘Do you have anything to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.”
So Jesus shows them his scars. Scars from nine inch nails don’t lie do they. Then, remember it has been since the last supper in the upper room since he’s eaten anything.
He has died horribly, been resurrected, defeated Satan, defeated Death, taken possession of the keys of hell, walked to and from Emmaus, the Son of Man is hungry, please get him some fish to eat. Luke 24:44-45,
“He said to 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.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”
Which is exactly what we are going to do. We are going to open our minds so as to understand the Scriptures.
We have been programmed by society to believe that those people with closed minds are Bible believing Christians. Bible believing Christians are a narrow-minded people, we are told. That’s what higher education teaches us, or tries to teach us, anyway. That’s what the progressives and globalists want society to believe. But, what if, all the educational elites, the progressives, and the globalists are wrong about Christians who believe the Bible is Truth.. And instead, it is the Christians that are open-minded, and the elites, progressives, and globalists themselves that are the narrow-minded. Surprise, we are going to open our minds to the truth of Jesus in the Old Testament Scriptures.
Let me give you the key, so if you want to look these up yourself, on your own time, you can.
In the NIV Study Bible (you can use any version of a study Bible), in the study notes in the lower portion of the page, go to the last verse, which we just read, Luke 24:45,
“Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scripture.”
In reference to this verse, the note says: opened their minds so they could understand the OT Scriptures (cf. v 27).
The abbreviation (cf v 27), means to compare or see also verse 27. So we go back to the study notes of verse 27 in Luke chapter 24, which we read last week, and said,
“And beginning with Moses, and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all Scriptures concerning himself.”
Then simply go to the center column reference and behold… There are 12 references listed in this reference. Many we have covered before, a couple we have not. One a reference to an entire chapter in the book of Isaiah, Chapter 53, which I have referenced often throughout the years. For the sake of time, I’ll keep these references condensed.
Are you ready to have your minds opened to Jesus and his truth in the Old Testament? Here we go…
Genesis 3:15, which we have covered recently. The First Gospel of the Bible. Meaning, the very first reference to The Messiah, the Christ, or to Jesus in the Bible. It is immediately following Adam and Eve’s biting into the forbidden fruit.
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
This symbolism of the antagonism between mankind and snakes portrays the epic struggle between God and Satan. The offspring of the woman, Jesus Christ, ultimately crushes the head of the serpent with his victory on the cross.
Numbers 21:9, harkens back to when Moses was leading the Israelites and they became whiny and complaining and spoke against God. God sent venomous snakes among the people. These snakes bit the Israelites and many died. Then the people admitted their sin. Numbers 21:9,
“So Moses made a bronze snake (per God’s instructions) and put it on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.”
The bronze snake symbolizes Christ and the life he brings for the forgiveness of one’s sins. Deuteronomy 18:15, Moses is speaking here,
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him.”
The immediate context here is for a prophet to take Moses’ place, then, upon the next generation another, so on, a collective basis for the many prophets who will follow Moses. The Messianic expectation is the fulfillment of this prophecy by Jesus, who will be rejected by the Jews.
Isaiah 7:14, we have covered often at Christmastime. It is self explanatory.
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God with us).”
Isaiah 9:6, also referenced often at Christmas,
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 40:10-11, the strong shepherd lovingly tending his flock.
“See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”
Isaiah 53 contains 12 verses, each being a fairly long stanza. Let’s narrow this down to Isaiah 53:4-5. This contains what I believe to be the most powerful statement in the Bible.
“Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Christ’s death on the cross was for our sins, he was sinless. It was our punishment he faced and suffered, and from that punishment we have peace with the God Most High. His wounds brought us healing for our sins.
Ezekiel 34:23, the prophet Ezekiel speaks the word of the Lord,
“I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.”
God in this passage is announcing a theocracy, a kingdom where he would be King, and an earthly king as a prince.
This earthly prince will be fulfilled by the Son of Man, Jesus, from the line of David. He will be their shepherd.
This next verse, Daniel 9:24, describes how it all is about Jesus. Through Christ the Messiah, all things will be brought to completion.
“Seventy sevens are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.”
Jesus is the sum of all things.
Micah 7:20, is a reminder that God has not forgotten his promise to Abraham and Jacob, and the nation of Israel.
“You will be true to Jacob, and show mercy to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our fathers in days long ago.”
As Jesus completes all those things in Daniel 9:24, he will make sure that Abraham will be the father of many nations, and that his and Jacob’s descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth and the sand on the seashore. Malachi 3:1,
“See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come, says the Lord Almighty.”
Just as John the Baptist was the messenger preparing the way for Jesus, so Jesus the Christ will prepare the way for the Lord Almighty and will confirm and establish his covenant.
Each of these Scriptures from the Old Testament are promises from God fulfilled through Jesus Christ. There are hundreds of similar promises throughout the Old Testament. All of these promises are true and have been proven to be true. Why do these verses open the minds of the disciples?
Well to answer this question let’s summarize briefly what we just covered:
- Jesus is God’s healing for the sin of mankind.
- He will forgive your sins and you will live.
- He is a prophet, he is prophecy.
- Jesus is God’s Son of a virgin birth.
- He is the Prince of Peace
- A loving shepherd of God’s people.
- His is the punishment that brought us peace and healing.
These promises to Israel:
- The shepherd will be from David’s line.
- He will be the sum of all God’s promises in the Bible.
- God will honor all of his covenants through his Son Jesus
Christ, his Prince of Peace.
These verses open our minds to the details of the Good News of Jesus Christ. This is the detailed version of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Jesus completed his teaching to open the minds of the disciples in this way, Luke 24:46-48,
“He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Our minds have been opened by Jesus teaching, just as he did with his disciples. You and I are witnesses of these things. We have been clothed from on high, with his Holy Spirit.
Go forth, and do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God.