"Touch Me and See"

He Opened Their Minds to Understand Scriptures

After Jesus' resurrection he appeared to his disciples as they were talking about all the things that had happened. Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!" But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet (Luke 24:40)

While they still disbelieved for joy and marveling, he said to them, "Do you have anything to eat?" As he was eating a piece of broiled fish before them, He said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures (vv. 41-45)

What a beautiful picture of our Lord and Savior. It is finished! Jesus said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise for the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things (vv. 46-48).

And it is because of this, we who now read the Scriptures and believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and that God raised him from the dead, can experience the same Jesus who spoke to his disciples over 2,000 years ago. While we cannot physically "touch and see" his nailed scared hands and his pierced side as the disciples have, Jesus has sent us the promise of his Father upon us, the Holy Spirit, who witnesses with our spirit. (v49; Romans 8:16). And as the men who walked the road with him, we must ask ourselves, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures (Luke 24:32)?"

Lord, my heart is humbled. My soul is overwhelmed by your great love for all of man.. For those that believe you are the Son of God, you have sent your helper the Holy Spirit to witness with our spirit that you are who you say you are. Thank you for opening our eyes that we may have wisdom from Scriptures. My heart burns within me and I seek to know you more. May we continually learn of you so that we may grow in a right relationship with you. I pray for my family, my friends, and those around me to know you. To seek after you and make you Lord and Savior of their lives. It is in Jesus precious name I pray, amen.