Three marvelous statements concerning the Lord Jesus in Luke 24:44-49:

I.                    Everything written about the Lord Jesus Christ must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44).

II.                 Everything written about the Lord Jesus Christ can be understood (Luke 24:45).

III.               Everything written about the Lord Jesus Christ can be summarized or boiled down to four statements (Luke 24:46-48).

-         The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day.

-         Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations.

-         You are witnesses of these things.

-         The Promised Holy Spirit will come to give you the power to proclaim this gospel.

EVERYTHING WRITTEN ABOUT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST CAN BE UNDERSTOOD.

HOW?

JESUS OPENED THEIR MINDS SO THEY COULD UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES.

I was engaged in a good conservation at the membership meeting.  It had to do with one’s salvation testimony. 

I remember as a young boy about 4^th grade, sharing a hymnal with an older man (probably in his late 20’s or early 30’s).  We were singing the final hymn at the First Baptist Church of Frazee, MN.  This man was kind of nervous (I realize now) and was even shaking a bit.  He handed the hymnal over to me and stepped out of the second row we were in on the left side and walked forward at the end of that service to rededicate his life to the Lord.

It is a special ministry of the Lord to us, when he opens our eyes so that we can see and opens our ears so that we can hear.

It is a gift from the Lord.  When ministered to us, I see the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all at work. We call it illumination. 

Kind of cool sounding, isn’t it?

Illumination:  a general enlightening that Christ brings to all men especially through the gospel (John 1:9; II Tim. 1:10); the enlightening experience of salvation (Heb. 6:4; 10:32); the understanding of Christian truth (Eph. 1:18; 3:9).

Evangelical Dictionary of Theology:  Specifically the doctrine of illumination relates to that ministry of the Holy Spirit that helps the believer understand the truth of Scripture.  In relation to the Bible, the doctrine of revelation relates to the unveiling of truth in the material of the Scriptures; inspiration concerns the method by which the Holy Spirit superintended the writing of Scripture; and illumination refers to the ministry of the Spirit by which the meaning of Scripture is made clear to the believer.

Those who believe that “unless a man is born again, he shall not enter the kingdom of heaven” and those who know that “by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourself, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast” . . . may not be aware of a wonderful gift that came simultaneously with the gift of salvation . . . it is called illumination.

ILLUMINATION = LIGHT

JESUS OPENED THEIR MINDS SO THEY COULD UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES.

This gift opened my eyes at the time of salvation (John 1:1-13; II Timothy 1:10).

Hebrews 10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

This gift opens my eyes for my continuing sanctification (Ephesians 1:15-21).

I Corinthians 4:4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

This gift will open the eyes of those who see the culmination (Mark 13; II Thessalonians 2).

On Palm Sunday, in the Scripture, there was great illumination taking place along side of great darkness.

John 12:12-19 . . . “See, this is getting us nowhere.  Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

Luke 19:28-44 . . . “Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’ ‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’”

(It is very extreme illumination taking place when the Lord starts illuminating rocks to praise Him)

Matthew 21:1-17 . . . “The chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they were indignant.  ‘Do you hear what these children are saying?’ they asked him.  ‘Yes,’ replied Jesus, ‘have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’” 

Three marvelous statements concerning the Lord Jesus in Luke 24:44-49:

1)      Everything written about the Lord Jesus Christ must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44).

2)      Everything written about the Lord Jesus Christ can be understood (Luke 24:45).

HOW?

JESUS OPENED THEIR MINDS SO THEY COULD UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES.