When two disciples were going from Jerusalem to Emmaus in the gathering dusk, deep in interlocution about their dashed hopes, Jesus started walking along with them and revealed Himself to them. Then He appeared to His other disciples and chided them for
their unbelief (Lk 24:13-53). During His discourse with them He opended up three things. 1) Their eyes 2) Their understanding 3) The Scriptures. It was a pivotal event. It was a Sunday — The day Jesus rose from the grave - evening. When we meditate the Scriptures these three must be opened.
First of all let’s see why Christ beffudled them calling them fools. “How foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” said He (Lk 24:25). Why was He disappointed that they did not yet believe Jesus was the Messiah
and had come back alive? Let’s see how the scriptures revealed to them that fact and how Jesus Himself had succinctly told them umpteen number of times about His sufferings, death and resurrection. He had told them in unequivocal terms what to expect.
But after the death of Jesus they thought the revolution was running out of steam.
The Ethiopian Eunuch could not understand what he was reading because he was a Gentile. Philip explained to him the scriptures and guided him into salvation. But the Jews, especially the disciples, who were thorough with the OT, had no excuse whatsoever
to not understand the resurrection of Jesus. If they had examined the law and Prophets to corroborate what Jesus told about Himself as the Messiah, the scriptures would have opened up to unlock their eyes and understanding. Jesus cites the reason as
unbelief.
This the Bereans were quick to do. Daily they sat with Paul and enthusiastically examined the scriptures and saw that it supported what he said.
We have never bothered to put together the shadow in the OT and the substance in the New Testament. There are too many references to quote. Let’s pull together biblical passages on this theme which should have alerted the disciples and exposed to them
the Jesus hidden in the OT.
“Beginning with Moses ...” (Lk 24:27). Where did Jesus begin? I think Genesis 3:15. “I will put enmity ... between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” The Seed is not ‘it,’ but He. He must have taken them
through Genesis 22 showing how Jesus was the one and only beloved Son (Isaac) of God the Father, carried His cross (Isaac carrying the wood), Father Himself sacrificed Him (Abraham carrying fire and knife), climbed Golgotha (Moriah), crucified (Isaac
laid on the altar), resurrected (Isaac lost for three days for Abraham and was again in the bosom of his father) (Incidentally this is where Jesus was crucified - 2 Chr 3:1). He must have pointed out to them how Jesus casts His shadow as the pascal lamb
in Exodus. Of course, He must have taken them through Psalm 22, Isaiah 53 Jona and other passages which speak of His birth, life, sufferings, death and resurrection.
Even if they considered the OT impenetrable, Jesus Himself told them many, many times of future happenings. Just to cite a few —
Mt 16:21 — “From that time on Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and raised to life.”
Mt 20:18,19 - He spoke of His death by crucifixion.
Just read the testimony of some of His contemporaries regarding His divinity —
Magi - “We saw His star in the east” Mt 2:1.
John — “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” Jn 1:29.
Peter — “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Mt 16:16.
Mother of James and John — “... in Your Kingdom” Mt 20:21.
Andrew — “We have found the Messiah” Jn 1:41.
Philip — “We have found the One Moses wrote about.” Jn 1:45.
Nathaniel — “You are the Son of God: You are the King of Israel.” Jn 1:49.
Samaritans — “We know that this man really is the Saviour of the world.” Jn 4:42.
Disciples — “Now You are speaking clearly and without figures of speech ... This makes us believe that You came from God” Jn 16:29-31.
Martha — “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world” Jn 11:27.
People — Hosanna! King of Israel! Jn 12:13.
Mary Magdalene — Empty tomb and Vision of Jesus — Jn 20.
Mary, Jesus’ mother would have told His brothers and sisters about His miraculous birth and happenings.
Jesus had told them: “I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you will believe” (Jn 14:29). All doubts were virtually dispelled. But like air leaving a ballon their belief was gone.
With all the available evidence the disciples ought to have sat near the tomb for three days to witness the resurrection.
Now do you agree that Jesus had good reason to call them dumb-heads? Even after resurrection and all the gathered facts, He was for them “a” prophet, not “the” Prophet (Lk 24:19). Inspite of Jesus explaining to them clearly that His Kingdom was not of
this world, yet their hope was that He was the one who would deliver them from the Roman rule (Lk 24:21).
So, now we come to the nub of the issue. Are we any better than the disciples? Let’s see how Luke 24:13-53 compares to our Bible meditation.
We open our Bibles and feel blank. (Disciples discussing on the way to Emmaus). Jesus joins us but we don’t recognize Him. We think there is nothing to meditate. If we take some more effort and turn the pages from Genesis to Revelation, He helps us see
Himself in the books and chapters and verses (Jesus explaining to the disciples). We feel an odd flutter in our chests.
Then we feel its over, there’s no more to it (Jesus acts as if He were going). If we switch on our brains and have the I-want-more attitude (They urged Him strongly. It was not a cursory invitation) He comes along with us. He breaks the bread of life and
gives us and our eyes are opened to see Jesus (The disciples are overjoyed). We exclaim, “My heart burns within me. He opened the Scripture to me” (Lk 24:32). Do you enjoy such aha moments during your Bible meditation?
If you continue to squeeze as much meaning as you can from the portion, you come to the, “joy and amazement” stage (Lk 24:41). Your understanding is opened (Lk 24:44-45). He expounded the scriptures about Him and led them on a walk. This is the, “walking
through the scriptures with Jesus,” experience (vv 46-50). Then He blessed them. This is where we feel full and bubbling and experience a personal epiphany. This leads us to the final stage of worship and great joy and praising God! (vv 52,53).
When you sit down to meditate, have an eye for detail and don’t sit down without your Bible diary and pen. Start writing down the thoughts that roll through your brain. Don’t give up. Dig and dig till He opens your eyes and understanding and scripture —
till you pass through the burning- heart stage and the joy and amazement period.
Do you know what it means to have a good ground for the seed? It is the person who sweats to understand what he reads. When anyone hears (or reads) the message about the Kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart ... But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears (or reads) the Word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown (Mt
13:19,23).
After the tutelage of Jesus the disciples must have sat with the Scriptures and found out that what all Jesus said was exactly there. That’s how Peter, Stephen and other disciples generated electricity in their audience quoting from Moses and Prophets
(Acts 2:22-36).
The Ethiopian minister (Acts 8) possessed a scroll of Isaiah which was rare and expensive those days. He took the pains to buy one and read it. He had two negative scores. First of all he was a Gentile and then an eunuch. So he was excluded and was
allowed only in the outer court from where he could hope for just a glimpse inside the inner court. Without minding all that he went from Ethiopia to worship the God of Israel in Jerusalem and was returning to his place. The reward — water in the desert
for a fuller spiritual experience!
Do we put in so much effort? Like him we may need the help of someone. The Levites helped the people understand (Neh 8:8). If we spend time sweating over the scriptures, the Counselor, the Holy Spirit will teach us all things and will remind us of everything (Jn 14:26). Loose jointed facts will then begin to click into place. You can use a Study Bible or a Reference Bible. Don’t try to complete reading the Bible in one year if you have already read it once. Instead use a Study Bible for your regular meditation, going through all the notes. Or daily read the prescribed portion to complete the Bible in one year and then start meditation.
Referring to the dictionary for difficult words will give you a wider and better understanding of the word.
Why do we need to labour so much? God made Saul blind and then opened His eyes to see Him as the Messiah. For what reason? He was sent to the Jews and Gentiles “to open their eyes” (Acts
26:18). Our study of the scriptures should not stop with our notes. We have a heavy responsibility to open the eyes of people. When you do that, the benefits cascade across Christendom.
The gracious hand of God was on Ezra who had devoted himself to the study and observance of the law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel (Ezra 7:10). Then we see people gathered around Ezra to give attention to the words of the Law (Neh 8:13). Start teaching whatever you learn to one or two or a small group.
When Daniel set his heart to understand, an angel was sent to explain to him (Dan 10:12,14). “And those of the people who understand shall instruct many” (Dan 11:33).
The Bible yields its treasures to those who dig deep, labour and sweat and struggle to understand.
“Lord, open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Psa 119:18).
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
When two disciples were going from Jerusalem to Emmaus in the gathering dusk, deep in interlocution about their dashed hopes, Jesus started walking along with them and revealed Himself to them. Then He appeared to His other disciples and chided them for
their unbelief (Lk 24:13-53). During His discourse with them He opended up three things. 1) Their eyes 2) Their understanding 3) The Scriptures. It was a pivotal event. It was a Sunday — The day Jesus rose from the grave - evening. When we meditate the Scriptures these three must be opened.
First of all let’s see why Christ beffudled them calling them fools. “How foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” said He (Lk 24:25). Why was He disappointed that they did not yet believe Jesus was the Messiah
and had come back alive? Let’s see how the scriptures revealed to them that fact and how Jesus Himself had succinctly told them umpteen number of times about His sufferings, death and resurrection. He had told them in unequivocal terms what to expect.
But after the death of Jesus they thought the revolution was running out of steam.
The Ethiopian Eunuch could not understand what he was reading because he was a Gentile. Philip explained to him the scriptures and guided him into salvation. But the Jews, especially the disciples, who were thorough with the OT, had no excuse whatsoever
to not understand the resurrection of Jesus. If they had examined the law and Prophets to corroborate what Jesus told about Himself as the Messiah, the scriptures would have opened up to unlock their eyes and understanding. Jesus cites the reason as
unbelief.
This the Bereans were quick to do. Daily they sat with Paul and enthusiastically examined the scriptures and saw that it supported what he said.
We have never bothered to put together the shadow in the OT and the substance in the New Testament. There are too many references to quote. Let’s pull together biblical passages on this theme which should have alerted the disciples and exposed to them
the Jesus hidden in the OT.
“Beginning with Moses ...” (Lk 24:27). Where did Jesus begin? I think Genesis 3:15. “I will put enmity ... between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” The Seed is not ‘it,’ but He. He must have taken them
through Genesis 22 showing how Jesus was the one and only beloved Son (Isaac) of God the Father, carried His cross (Isaac carrying the wood), Father Himself sacrificed Him (Abraham carrying fire and knife), climbed Golgotha (Moriah), crucified (Isaac
laid on the altar), resurrected (Isaac lost for three days for Abraham and was again in the bosom of his father) (Incidentally this is where Jesus was crucified - 2 Chr 3:1). He must have pointed out to them how Jesus casts His shadow as the pascal lamb
in Exodus. Of course, He must have taken them through Psalm 22, Isaiah 53 Jona and other passages which speak of His birth, life, sufferings, death and resurrection.
Even if they considered the OT impenetrable, Jesus Himself told them many, many times of future happenings. Just to cite a few —
Mt 16:21 — “From that time on Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and raised to life.”
Mt 20:18,19 - He spoke of His death by crucifixion.
Just read the testimony of some of His contemporaries regarding His divinity —
Magi - “We saw His star in the east” Mt 2:1.
John — “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” Jn 1:29.
Peter — “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Mt 16:16.
Mother of James and John — “... in Your Kingdom” Mt 20:21.
Andrew — “We have found the Messiah” Jn 1:41.
Philip — “We have found the One Moses wrote about.” Jn 1:45.
Nathaniel — “You are the Son of God: You are the King of Israel.” Jn 1:49.
Samaritans — “We know that this man really is the Saviour of the world.” Jn 4:42.
Disciples — “Now You are speaking clearly and without figures of speech ... This makes us believe that You came from God” Jn 16:29-31.
Martha — “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world” Jn 11:27.
People — Hosanna! King of Israel! Jn 12:13.
Mary Magdalene — Empty tomb and Vision of Jesus — Jn 20.
Mary, Jesus’ mother would have told His brothers and sisters about His miraculous birth and happenings.
Jesus had told them: “I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you will believe” (Jn 14:29). All doubts were virtually dispelled. But like air leaving a ballon their belief was gone.
With all the available evidence the disciples ought to have sat near the tomb for three days to witness the resurrection.
Now do you agree that Jesus had good reason to call them dumb-heads? Even after resurrection and all the gathered facts, He was for them “a” prophet, not “the” Prophet (Lk 24:19). Inspite of Jesus explaining to them clearly that His Kingdom was not of
this world, yet their hope was that He was the one who would deliver them from the Roman rule (Lk 24:21).
So, now we come to the nub of the issue. Are we any better than the disciples? Let’s see how Luke 24:13-53 compares to our Bible meditation.
We open our Bibles and feel blank. (Disciples discussing on the way to Emmaus). Jesus joins us but we don’t recognize Him. We think there is nothing to meditate. If we take some more effort and turn the pages from Genesis to Revelation, He helps us see
Himself in the books and chapters and verses (Jesus explaining to the disciples). We feel an odd flutter in our chests.
Then we feel its over, there’s no more to it (Jesus acts as if He were going). If we switch on our brains and have the I-want-more attitude (They urged Him strongly. It was not a cursory invitation) He comes along with us. He breaks the bread of life and
gives us and our eyes are opened to see Jesus (The disciples are overjoyed). We exclaim, “My heart burns within me. He opened the Scripture to me” (Lk 24:32). Do you enjoy such aha moments during your Bible meditation?
If you continue to squeeze as much meaning as you can from the portion, you come to the, “joy and amazement” stage (Lk 24:41). Your understanding is opened (Lk 24:44-45). He expounded the scriptures about Him and led them on a walk. This is the, “walking
through the scriptures with Jesus,” experience (vv 46-50). Then He blessed them. This is where we feel full and bubbling and experience a personal epiphany. This leads us to the final stage of worship and great joy and praising God! (vv 52,53).
When you sit down to meditate, have an eye for detail and don’t sit down without your Bible diary and pen. Start writing down the thoughts that roll through your brain. Don’t give up. Dig and dig till He opens your eyes and understanding and scripture —
till you pass through the burning- heart stage and the joy and amazement period.
Do you know what it means to have a good ground for the seed? It is the person who sweats to understand what he reads. When anyone hears (or reads) the message about the Kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart ... But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears (or reads) the Word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown (Mt
13:19,23).
After the tutelage of Jesus the disciples must have sat with the Scriptures and found out that what all Jesus said was exactly there. That’s how Peter, Stephen and other disciples generated electricity in their audience quoting from Moses and Prophets
(Acts 2:22-36).
The Ethiopian minister (Acts 8) possessed a scroll of Isaiah which was rare and expensive those days. He took the pains to buy one and read it. He had two negative scores. First of all he was a Gentile and then an eunuch. So he was excluded and was
allowed only in the outer court from where he could hope for just a glimpse inside the inner court. Without minding all that he went from Ethiopia to worship the God of Israel in Jerusalem and was returning to his place. The reward — water in the desert
for a fuller spiritual experience!
Do we put in so much effort? Like him we may need the help of someone. The Levites helped the people understand (Neh 8:8). If we spend time sweating over the scriptures, the Counselor, the Holy Spirit will teach us all things and will remind us of everything (Jn 14:26). Loose jointed facts will then begin to click into place. You can use a Study Bible or a Reference Bible. Don’t try to complete reading the Bible in one year if you have already read it once. Instead use a Study Bible for your regular meditation, going through all the notes. Or daily read the prescribed portion to complete the Bible in one year and then start meditation.
Referring to the dictionary for difficult words will give you a wider and better understanding of the word.
Why do we need to labour so much? God made Saul blind and then opened His eyes to see Him as the Messiah. For what reason? He was sent to the Jews and Gentiles “to open their eyes” (Acts
26:18). Our study of the scriptures should not stop with our notes. We have a heavy responsibility to open the eyes of people. When you do that, the benefits cascade across Christendom.
The gracious hand of God was on Ezra who had devoted himself to the study and observance of the law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel (Ezra 7:10). Then we see people gathered around Ezra to give attention to the words of the Law (Neh 8:13). Start teaching whatever you learn to one or two or a small group.
When Daniel set his heart to understand, an angel was sent to explain to him (Dan 10:12,14). “And those of the people who understand shall instruct many” (Dan 11:33).
The Bible yields its treasures to those who dig deep, labour and sweat and struggle to understand.
“Lord, open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Psa 119:18).
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
