“The Scriptures Opened and Revealed”
Luke 24:13-53

And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. [Luke 24:45]

It is one thing to open Scripture and quite another to open understanding.  This is what Jesus prophesied in His upper room discourse.

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” [Jn 14:16-17]

These are the encouraging words that Jesus gave to His disciples before the Cross, knowing that He would soon leave them.  But He would not leave them as orphans; He would send them the Holy Spirit.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” [Jn 14:26]

And so, we have in this last chapter of Luke the record of this; the Holy Spirit coming upon the disciples to reveal to them the truth.  It would be truth embedded in Scripture [physically] and now opened and revealed spiritually with understanding.  It is a prelude to the fullness of the Spirit coming upon the Church at Pentecost in Acts 2.

On the road to Emmaus, the Risen Lord will teach an in-depth study of the Scriptures that speak of Him [ref. 24:27].  He will “open their eyes.”  He will then reveal the Scriptures to the rest of the disciples and “open their understanding that they might comprehend.” [24:25] This marks the transition from sight to faith through the Spirit.  And this is how we relate to our Lord today, by faith.

Without faith it is impossible to please God [ref Heb 11:6].  But it is faith that now includes the indwelling of the Spirit.  It is that unique New Covenant economy that the Old Testament saints saw from afar.  It is the born-again experience of John 3.

With and in the Spirit we see and know Jesus Who brings us right into the Throne Room of God, behind the veil.  And that is where the revelation of Scripture is received.  

It is a Spirit-filled Word with Spirit-filled revelation that makes all the difference.