Making The Bible Come Alive
“He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”
Luke 24:45 (NLT)
If you want the Bible to come alive to you then you must approach it differently than any other book you read. No other book affords us the opportunity to connect with its author like the Bible. This is where reading the Bible becomes more than academic. It is dynamic!
Jesus’ first disciples had the same problem we do. They often heard His words as well as read the Old Testament and yet remained clueless as to what it all meant. I’m sure they even fell asleep in Synagogue as do so many in churches today. The problem is that it was lifeless, just words on a page, history and facts that seemed unrelated to where they were living and the issues they were facing. Kind of like religion today. But all of that changes when we enter into a personal relationship with the author of the book and experience the power of His risen presence with us as we read it.
Following the resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples. Shocked in unbelief at His obvious presence with them, He spoke to them. Thinking they were seeing a ghost, He showed them His hands and His feet. Then He asked for something to eat for further proof that He was there in the flesh. Luke tells us, “They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He ate it as they watched.” Luke 24:42-43 (NLT). I think they were too spooked to eat anything as they were trying to process what they were seeing.
Now, if you read the full account of Jesus ministry and teaching from the Gospels you will discover that on at least three or more occasions, Jesus specifically told them what was going to take place concerning His death, burial, and resurrection. In Luke 24, He reminds them in verses 44 and 45, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” No doubt their response must have been just like the two on the road to Emmaus to whom Christ had first appeared earlier in this same chapter. They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as He talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32(NLT)
Understanding is the key to making your Bible reading dynamic! Jesus opened these people’s minds to understand the Scriptures! The Holy Spirit still does that today in our lives as we read and study the Bible. Never approach the Bible without first praying this prayer from the Psalms 119:18 (NAB) “Open my eyes to see clearly the wonders of Your teachings.” When you connect with the author of the book you will be amazed at the understanding He will give you!