Luke 24:36-45 — Jesu-ception

READ THIS: Luke 24:36-49

36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 

38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 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.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 

41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. 

44 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.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

Jesus comes when everyone is all there discussing the ways He showed up to them. Yesterday, they were saying back and forth to each other that "it was true" what the women had been saying. But, when Jesus shows up again, people are still troubled and doubting (v38). It is so hard for us to believe something that we don't experience for ourselves. And, it is harder still today when there is so much AI and technology that can fabricate anything we can think of. Back then, they didn't have all that. But people could still hallucinate or lie. So, Jesus shows up and proves the doubters wrong. He even eats some food so they know that He isn't a figment of their imagination, and that He is truly there and not a ghost!

But Jesus does even more. He opens the disciples' minds to understand the Bible. Over and over, Jesus kept telling them before He was crucified that certain things needed to happen to fulfill the prophecies about Him, but they didn't get it. Now, after it has all been fulfilled, they finally are open to understanding. It's almost like when you watch the movie Inception. You don't get it the first time. No matter how carefully everything is explained. It's only when you watch it the second time, knowing how it ends, that you can comprehend it. That's like the Old Testament for us. The Old Testament doesn't really make sense until you see it through the light of the New Testament!

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. What about the Old Testament makes more sense to you now, after reading Luke? For those of you who aren't familiar with the OT, what do you think the Old Testatment's purpose is?
 
2. What parts of Scripture do you feel like your mind is still closed to? Is there anything that just confuses you, the way the disciples were confused when Jesus died?

TRY THIS:

Glance over this compilation of 351 Old Testament prophecies that Jesus fulfilled. 

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