Three Openings
Luke 24:13–35
Did not our hearts burn within us . . . while he opened to us the Scriptures? Luke 24:32
Jesus opened the Scriptures; he also opened eyes and understanding. Each of those three openings had an important consequence. When Jesus opened the Scriptures to Cleopas and his companion, we are told that their hearts burned within them. They were saying, “Isn’t this exciting? Isn’t it thrilling?”
There was a different consequence when Jesus opened their eyes. Though it was the end of the day and the way to Jerusalem was long and dangerous, nevertheless, they experienced an immediate desire to tell others about the risen Lord. So they set out for Jerusalem the same night and there told their story.
Finally, as Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, they doubtless entered into a phase of their lives in which they understood both the Scriptures and the Lord differently. Before, much of the Word of God was a mystery. Hereafter, when they would turn to the book of Genesis and read about the seed of the woman who should bruise the serpent’s head, they would know that the seed was Jesus. Genesis would be new for them, and they would understand the Lord himself better. They would read a bit further and find that he is not only the seed of the woman, he is the seed of Abraham also, the one who was to bring blessings to the nations. They would recognize the fulfillment of this prophecy in the subsequent proclamation of the gospel to the Gentiles. The two would see Jesus prefigured in the life of Joseph. In Exodus he would be perceived as the Passover Lamb. In Numbers he is the rock in the wilderness from whom we receive the water of life freely. He is also the cloud who guides his people and covers them with his protection. Deuteronomy pictures Jesus Christ as the righteous one and defines that righteousness. In Joshua he is the captain of the Lord’s hosts. In the psalms and prophets we are told of his suffering, death, and resurrection. In some of them—Ezekiel, Daniel, and others—we learn of his second coming in glory. The last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, portrays Jesus as the sun of righteousness risen with healing in his wings.
These three openings are three great blessings that we should all desire of the resurrected Lord. When the Bible is opened and we see the Lord Jesus Christ as he is interpreted to us by the divine operation of the Holy Spirit, we will never be the same again. The Word itself will be different. It will not be a mystery. It will make sense. What is more, it will be a great blessing. For it will be the place where we meet with Jesus, who died for us and who now lives to be known by his followers.
Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865
Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.