Luke 24:44-47 44Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that it is necessary for everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms to be fulfilled.” 45Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46And said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance for the forgiveness of sins to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
As Jesus was talking with his disciples, he followed a similar pattern to his discussion with the two on the road to Emmaus. In this case, he begins with a personal touch by reminding them of what he taught them. He had predicted his resurrection, but in the stress of the moment and confusion that comes with a lack of faith, the disciples failed to make the connections. Prophecy is difficult to understand until after the event happens. These are Jesus’ final instructions to his disciples as recorded in Luke’s Gospel. Luke continues and expands the closing of his Gospel in Acts 1. Jesus had been with them about three years but would soon leave. They needed to remember all he had taught them and put it into practice.
Like on the road, he again explains the Scriptures and how these were fulfilled. Verse 44-45 are significant verses for interpreting the Old Testament. First to note is how the Old Testament speaks about Jesus. All of Jesus’ life was predicted in the past. The Old Testament points to his birth, life, death, and resurrection (John 5:39; 20:9). Second, Jesus refers to all three parts of the Hebrew Bible: the Law, Prophets, and the Psalms, The Law refers to the first five books of Genesis – Deuteronomy. The Prophets consists of the “former prophets” (Joshua through 2 Kings) and the “latter prophets” (the major prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel; and the minor prophets: Hosea through Malachi. The Psalms is representative of the Writings, which refers to the rest of the Old Testament.
Jesus is the answer to the incomplete story of Israel. No one else has ever fulfilled all the prophetic longing of Israel. Third, Jesus helped the disciples understand. In theology, this is called divine illumination. God gives his followers deeper insights into the meaning of his Word. The Holy Spirit speaks God’s truths into our own spirits so that we come to understand and respond in faith and obedience (1 Corinthians 2:6-16). Jesus stands at the center of the whole Bible. The Old Testament points to him and the New Testament reflects back on him.
This was the greatest Bible study of all time. Jesus’ explanation can be divided into three topics. First, he specifically pointed out how his suffering and resurrection were predicted in Scripture. These two topics were the key points of concern, doubt, and confusion for the disciples. Second, he explained the theological significance of his death and resurrection and how these result in the forgiveness of sins. The human response is included with the need to repent. Third, the mission is given of proclaiming the first two points. This message must be preached to every people group of the world. The focus of this message is not generic psychology or sociology or even a theology of restoration. The focus must be Jesus because this all must be done in his name. He is the one who makes it possible for us to be forgiven. This mission would begin in Jerusalem, right where this group of disciples had gathered (Acts 1:8). It would begin small but would eventually reach all people.
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