Understanding?

S - “And Jesus said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything that is written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, and a change of thinking and the freedom from sins would be announced in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” ‭‭Luke‬ TS

O - Understanding the scriptures still requires a direct interface with the person of the resurrected Jesus.  Up to this time the followers had read, believed and talked about the scriptures.  The problem was that they did not understand them as they were intended.  The key to such an understanding is not found in a better theological framework, linguistic study nor a more accurate historical perspective.  It is found in a dynamic relationship with the one about whom the scriptures are written.  According to Jesus, the primary purpose of scripture is to testify about himself so that the reader/hearer would come to him for vibrant, irrepressible life (e.g. John 5:39-40). The result of this relational exchange will be an ongoing change in how one thinks about everything and freedom from sins. 

A - Jesus was not asking his followers to keep an open mind so they would discover a better understanding of the scriptures. An open mind is certainly a good thing but will not, of itself, produce the needed understanding.  Education is a good thing, but it won't do the trick either.  I need my mind opened by Jesus. I not only accept this, I'm admitting it and welcoming it day by day. When I read the scriptures, I acknowledge their purpose -- to encourage me to come near and stay near Jesus unto transformed thinking, understanding and the life that is really life. 

P -  Lord of all and Lord of me,

Thank you for wanting in to all of my living, thinking and being.  I want and need you in.  I admit that you must enable me or I'll miss you and the point completely.  I accept the need for ongoing transformation in my thinking and for freedom from sins.  I make myself entirely available to you and say - you lead, I'll follow … unto all you already have in mind to do. I do love you back!

Steve