30th Mar 26 | 13:54
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Luke 24 36-49 COMMISSIONED TO BE HIS WITNESSES 14 28Apr2022 Luke 24 44-45 Clarity of the Scriptures
📖 Luke 24:36-49
14 – 28Apr2022 – Clarity of the Scriptures - Luke 24:36-49 - COMMISSIONED TO BE HIS WITNESSES - Bible reading: Acts 13:32-41
“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You are giving us an understanding of the Scriptures. This understanding transforms and enables us to be Your witnesses. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.”
The Lord was opening the understanding of the disciples to comprehend the Scriptures.
Luke 24:44-45 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." (45) And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
We do not have the details of what the Lord actually taught the disciples, but we know that it was a vast study. For our discussion, let us consider the message that Apostle Paul preached to the Jews at Antioch in Pisidia.
Acts 13:32-41 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. (33) God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.' (34) And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: 'I WILL GIVE YOU THE SURE MERCIES OF DAVID.'
Paul talked about how Jesus was raised from the dead and connected it to the prophecy in the Psalms. He established to the Jews that Jesus was the one they were looking forward to coming, in the lineage of David. Jesus was the King who fulfilled the eternal covenant of God with David.
Psalms 89:2-4 For I have said, "Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens." (3) "I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: (4) ' Your seed I will establish forever, And build up your throne to all generations .' " Selah
There are several references to Jesus as King, in the line of David. Here are some of those passages.
Jeremiah 33:15-17, 33:26; Ezekiel 34:23-24, 37:24-25; Hosea 3:5; Amos 9:11; Zechariah 12:8 The Lord revealed Himself to the disciples as the fulfilment of all of these Scripture portions.
(35) Therefore He also says in another Psalm: 'YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION.'(36) "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption;(37) but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. (38) Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;(39) and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Paul explained that for the kingship of David to continue, it was necessary for the King to live forever. Jesus’ body did not see corruption and He rose from the dead. Therefore, the resurrection of Jesus was the pivotal point on which everything tied in.
Since Jesus’ body did not see corruption, Jesus became the one through whom, man receives the forgiveness of sin. Jesus came in the flesh but lived without sin in the flesh.
Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (15) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
All the rest of us will see corruption, for there is sin in our bodies. Jesus died and He was buried. His body did not see corruption and He rose again in a new body. On this fact of the resurrection, rests the reality of man’s sin being forgiven. Jesus alone is the one who is able to give man the forgiveness of sin. Jesus is our mediator of the new covenant.
When a person comes to Jesus, in faith, in repentance and thankfulness, seeking the forgiveness of sin, this person is forgiven. Since the man who believes in Jesus is forgiven of his sins, this person is also justified before God, which was not possible by the law of Moses. The Law of Moses could not make man righteous before God.
These were some of the connections that Paul established through His teaching. Now, we can appreciate how wonderful and glorious the study would have been, that the Lord provided to the disciples because they believed Him.
Then Paul gives the warning that if people do not believe, they will perish.
(40) Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: (41) 'BEHOLD, YOU DESPISERS, MARVEL AND PERISH! FOR I WORK A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL BY NO MEANS BELIEVE, THOUGH ONE WERE TO DECLARE IT TO YOU.' "
Though the words of God are declared, people choose not to believe in Him. When a man chooses to deliberately remain in unbelief then that man will perish.
John 5:45-47 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. (46) For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. (47) But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"
When we believe, then comprehension of the Scriptures takes place, which leads us to be His witnesses.
Thought to ponder
Seek to grow in faith in Jesus for therein lies the key to comprehending the Scriptures and being His witness.