Now I Get It

Rev. Steven D. Spencer

Luke 24:44-52 & Acts 1:4-6

Acts 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"

Luke 24:44 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.

He opened their minds, so that they could comprehend the Scriptures.

So Far the Text

A.     I Just Don't Understand, I Just Don't Get It.

I.                    Ignorance is bliss that's what many mothers, fathers and philosophers have told us over the years.

                                                              i.      Mark Twain: "Ignorance isn't so much bliss as it is an excuse for not knowing what you were suppose to do."

 

II.                  The disciples suffered a strong dose of "I just don't get it."
On several occasions we’ve talked about how they kept missing the point. Let's recap a few of those events and a few extra.

 

a.      Peter with Jesus just before entering Jerusalem. Jesus says: "I must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things, be killed so the third day I can rise." Peter said heaven forbid it; I will not let that happen. Of course Jesus retorts; get behind me Satan. (Peter just didn't get it)

b.      Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb to find Jesus but He is gone. She looks high and low for Him. (She just didn't get it)

c.      Mary runs to get Peter and John and takes them into the tomb but Jesus wasn't there. They decide that there nothing to do and go home to sleep. (Peter and John just didn't get it)

d.      Just before our text today two disciples on the road to Emmaus conversing with an unknown man about all that happened in Jerusalem. It isn't until they dine with the man that they realize it was Jesus. (They just didn't get it)

e.      The biggest just didn't get it has to go to Thomas. All the other disciples had seen Jesus. They told Thomas about it. But Thomas says: "Unless I see Him with my own eyes and touch Him with my own hands I will not believe." (Thomas just didn't get it.)
I can relate to men and women of Scripture. Sometimes I just don't get it. I'm studying a text in Scripture and it just doesn't make sense to me. Usually something happens like reading a commentary, going back and reading it in a different version and finally I get it.

 

B. THEY GET IT

III.                For Those disciples it's Jesus who opens their minds so they can comprehend the Scriptures.

a.      But what is it that they finally got? Verse 44 tells us. "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."

b.      Jesus put His stamp of approval on the entire Old Testament as a prophecy and foreshadowing of Himself, His person, Word and work; Very often we see only the mountain tops in the Old Testament concerning Christ. But all of it testifies of Him; The Word of God is never preached in vain. It will bear fruit. Parents, teachers and preachers should learn that from this verse.

c.       By opening the minds of the disciples they now knew the Scriptures and the power therein, they knew the Messiah in the person of Jesus.

d.      I love the word used for opening the mind. The Greek word is "dianozoe" it's from that same word we get the word diagnostic. To diagnose; to discover. But in the original literal sense it was used to describe the first child born to a woman. The one that opened the birth canal. It is the birth of life that opens the door to more life.  When the disciple's minds were opened they were born again into the Word of Christ. 

e.      That dianozoe, birth, and opening of the mind open the door to others being born again too. We see this in Jesus words: "It is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 "and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached by the means of His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 "And you are witnesses of these things."

                                                             i.      In the name of Jesus repentance and remission of sins; new life is preached.

B.      Things Happen When You Get It.

IV.               51. "Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy."

 

a.      They worship Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. Why so much joy? Because they finally got it. What Jesus did on the cross was release them from all the false ideas and shallows hopes they had. They had waited for Jesus to restore Jerusalem and bring the kingdom of God to them. That’s what our Acts reading shows us. And yet He did, by taking away their sins He had given them the kingdom of God. For the Israelites, one of the great fears was dying with having a current sacrifice for sin. To have sin held against you by God.

                                                              i.      We tend to look at sin as a pimple on our souls. A little dose of Sin Begone and we're set. Or maybe death without God simply means being buried in a perpetual sleep. But it's much more serious than that.

                                                            ii.      The Jewish people understood the consequences of sin. Complete separation from God. 1 John 4:8 says: “God is love”. That means a complete separation from Love. A vacuum, a void, emptiness. And oh no, not a sleep but an eternity of being awake, living an eternal separation from all forms of love and compassion, living in eternal torment. Living in hell.

                                                          iii.      The regulations that the Jewish people lived by were to offer a sacrifice, which took care of the sins up to that day. But any sins after that day were carried on one's own shoulders.

                                                          iv.      With understanding of the Scriptures and Jesus Words comes freedom from sin, death and the devil. No wonder they were filled with worship and joy.  They finally got it. And this is what they got.

1.      Jesus is the only sacrifice necessary for sins.

2.      Jesus fulfilled all of Scriptures.

3.      Jesus has forgiven all sins, even yours.

And you are witnesses of these things. Jesus says: "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but stay in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.

Jesus still continues to send the power from on high. He sends it to you through the Word preached of repentance and remission of sins, which we call Confession and Absolution. He sends it though the waters of Holy Baptism for remission of sins. He sends it though the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper where you hear the words: Take; drink the blood of Christ given for the remission of all your sins.

Jesus has sent you the power from high for He has forgiven you all your sins, they got it, and now you get it, for Christ has given it to you. In Jesus name, AMEN!

The Peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen