He Opened their minds to Understand

Article for June 1, 2025 Ascension Sunday

Luke 24:44 44Then [Jesus] said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

This is after the resurrection of our Lord.  Jesus is talking to His Apostles and maybe some disciples. He is letting them know that the Holy Scriptures from the law of Moses through the Psalms and all the prophets had to be fulfilled.  That is Jesus and His life on earth was foretold throughout the Old Testament. 

This is the final class, school has come to an end and graduation is about to commence.  Once Jesus is gone the Holy Spirit will take over.  As the Apostles and disciples were most likely baptized by John the Baptist and gathered by Jesus, a new baptism is going to take place.  This Baptism will be their commencement that will send them out into the fields to plant the seed of life.

Luke 24:45–47 45Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Whatever the Apostles and disciples did not understand before, they most certainly understand now. Jesus opened their minds to understand all scripture that was available to them at this time in history.  And now they will prepare and live the next twenty-seven books to complete the word of God.  Wouldn’t that be great if all we had to do is sit down and let Jesus open our minds and give us instant understanding? Yes, this is true, Jesus can open one’s mind to understand the words of our Father in heaven given to us in the Holy Bible.  Instant genius in the word and not just one or two but at least twelve.

Jesus gives them instructions to let people know that the Christ had to suffer and die so that many will live forever.  And Jesus tells them to proclaim the law and the gospel!  That is, proclaim repentance and forgiveness to all who will listen or at least hear.  For these words are given to us for our benefit.

Ephesians 1:18 18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

This is it, the students now have become the teachers.  It was put on the shoulders of the Apostles and disciples to spread the gospel of a loving God who planned to save us from sin and the devil.  We, having the eyes of our hearts opened to the very love of God so that we too will show God’s love to one another. 

Now we can also know that in the love of our God for us are many riches stored up in heaven.  This is more than just eternal life as these gifts of riches include eternal joy, calm, good health and no sin, and no sadness.  We will receive eternal love through many means of our Lord and God though we might not be able to imagine this love now, we will experience them in the new life and new world.

Ephesians 1:22–23 22And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

The joy we can have on earth is that we are all part of the church and therefore we are all part of the body of Christ.  This makes our adoption into Christ more solidified as we are one with Him and He is one with us.  This is true assurance to our salvation and eternal life and relationship with God who loves us.

The mysteries of our God will be known in our eternal life with Him.  Church will have a greater meaning as the Church is the body of Christ.  The resurrection of Jesus is the blessing that He gave to all for all.  And the gift of God is eternal.

Luke 24:51 51While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

Look up! our Jesus is entering the place where He will prepare a place for us.  Look up! We have much to find joy in as we look forward to the second coming of our Lord, our savior who died for our sins, and rose for our eternal life.  Look up! We might see Him who saved us come again.

Acts 1:10–11 10And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

And when Jesus comes again, He will come to carry all of us up with Him to live forever, with Him.  We will know of our creation, and why we have a creator God who loves us.  We are His creation meant to be in His likeness.  Why wouldn’t He, our God and creator love us and take our sorrow and turn it to joy.

Luke 24:52–53 52And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53and were continually in the temple blessing God.

      And we worship Him and come to His house to glean the good news of joy and eternity with the true joy giver Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

      Written by Pastor Curtis A. May