From the beginning of Luke’s gospel and throughout, we have see the Holy Spirit filling and guiding. Gabriel tells Zacharias that his son will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb. We see evidence of this when Mary comes to visit Elizabeth and baby John does some leaping in the womb. The beginning of Jesus is also about the moving of the Spirit; the coming of power in the form of a virgin conception and birth. As was mentioned at the beginning of this series of articles, the story of Jesus is the story of the movement of the Spirit of God. As we near the end, it shouldn’t be surprising to see the Spirit being promised to the disciples. A following Jesus walk is a Spirit thing. In the Newsboys class song “Spirit Thing” they say, “It’s just a spirit thing; It’s just a holy nudge; It’s like a circuit judge in the brain; It’s just a spirit thing; It’s hear to guard my heart; It’s just a little hard to explain.”
In Luke 24:13-35, the disciples on the road to Emmaus, first had Jesus explain Scripture and then ate a meal with him. Scripture and bread opened their eyes. In Luke 24:36-49, the order is switched, but it seems to be the same concept of meal and Word of God and then opened mind. So, Luke 24:44-49 is all about the dawning realization of Scripture; of the opening of minds. Apparently, after the meal of broiled fish, Jesus reminds them that he had told them about his then coming betrayal, suffering, death, and resurrection (cf. Luke 9:22; 18:31-34). Before the actual events took place, however, the message of suffering and death could not shatter their messianic expectations. But now, in light of all that has happened, they are better able to accept the message; better able to understand that the message comes from the whole Old Testament. It is a message of humility and exaltation; of laying down life so that God can lift it up. All of Scripture breathes this message and then Christ lived it; fulfilled it. Then there are specific prophesies like that of Isaiah 53.
Even with the realization of recent events, Jesus still opened their minds so that they could understand. This is probably intended in the same way as verse 27. It is an explaining of his life in conjunction with Scriptures. I don’t think we are intended to see a miraculous opening up of their mind here. Having said that, it is only through the life and teaching of Jesus that we can make sense of God’s word. The Scriptures that they have heard read every Sabbath; that they have read and reread. Study was not enough. Necessary, but not enough. It took Jesus opening their minds before they could grasp a Christ that suffers and rises from the dead. I’m guessing that they also needed Jesus to crack open their minds to the awareness that repentance and forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name to all nations. From the promise that the descendants of Abraham would be blessing to the nations to the great Banquet of the Lord in Isaiah 25:6 that is prepared for all peoples, God has been preparing them for this message. All nations can repent and receive forgiveness in the Christ.
Jesus tells them that this will begin in Jerusalem. Interestingly, Jesus’ own ministry began in Galilee and ended in Jerusalem. The disciples will begin their heralding of this good news in Jerusalem and spread out to all nations (cf. Isaiah 2:2-3). Some place the phrase “beginning from Jerusalem” with verse 48: “Beginning from Jerusalem you are witnesses of these things.” They are witnesses of Jesus’ pre-passion life and teaching; of the passion itself; and of his post-passion appearances and instructions. But not before they are clothed with power from on high. The spreading of the message of repentance and forgiveness is a spirit thing. It is a holy nudge. Even though Jesus has opened their minds to the understanding of God’s word – even though they have witnessed the life, teaching, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus – they are not to go galivanting around with that message until the Spirit comes upon them like a garment of power.
There is this paradox in the Bible. We are intended to be noble-minded along with the Bereans and examine the Scripture daily. But that is not enough. There is a banquet of bread and Scripture; an opening up of the mind through the life and teaching of Jesus. And there is also the Spirit of God who guides us into all truth. There are people who know the Bible but do not know the Christ. There are those who can dive into the text without being shaped. It’s a Spirit thing. So, if we are to be witnesses to the nations or our neighbors of the repentance and forgiveness of sins, we will need to be Spirit led. Be nudged and go forth.