Luke’s account of the resurrection records the disciples’ struggle to understand the reality of the resurrection. When the women reported what they had experienced at the empty tomb, “these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them” (Luke 24:11).
The gospel writer continued to describe that struggle in the story of the two disciples walking to the village of Emmaus—a story unique to Luke’s gospel (Luke 24:13-35). As the two journeyed from Jerusalem to Emmaus, Jesus joined them but they did not recognize him. When he inquired about their conversation, they reported everything that had happened during that Passover festival—their hopes that Jesus was the Messiah, his arrest by the religious leaders, his trial before Pilate, his crucifixion and death, even the women’s account of their experience at the empty tomb. Jesus responded by teaching them how their scriptures spoke of everything they described. “Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:26). Jesus’s words “how slow of heart to believe” (Luke 24:25) point to their struggle.
As they came to the village, they invited Jesus to join them in the evening meal. During the meal, Jesus became the host as he took the bread, broke it, and gave it to them—as he had done during the Passover meal. In the breaking of the bread, their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus (Luke 24:31, 34). When they recognized him, Jesus disappeared from their sight. They reflected on the experience and how they recognized the truth of what he had taught them from their scriptures: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).
The two immediately returned to Jerusalem and reported their experience to the other disciples. Those disciples affirmed that Jesus was indeed risen from the dead. He had appeared to Peter. As the group talked among themselves, Jesus appeared in their midst. Still, they struggled to believe, doubting their own eyes. Jesus addressed their struggle by inviting them to touch the wounds in his hands and feet, by eating a piece of fish. He then again taught them what the scriptures said—the same things he had taught them before his death—the things they could not grasp. The gospel writer noted, “Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:45).
This statement reflects a profound spiritual truth: we cannot understand the ways of God apart from the Spirit’s work in our lives (John 14:25-26; 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-16).
Our thinking has been shaped by the world’s ways of thinking and by the world’s values. This way of thinking blocks our ability to understand the ways of God. Paul taught this truth in his letter to the Romans: “Stop letting the world squeeze you into its mold. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2, personal translation). Note that the world has already shaped our thinking. We have to move beyond it in order to understand the ways of God Jesus taught. As Jesus proclaimed the good news of the kingdom, he called people to “repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:14-15). The word he used—translated as “repent”—means “think with a different mind.”
Paul spoke of this different way of thinking as “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). This way of thinking is shaped by the character of God and the ways of God, taught to us by the Spirit.
This spiritual truth—we cannot understand the ways of God apart from the Spirit’s work in our lives—includes a second truth: we cooperate with the Spirit and the Spirit’s work when we place ourselves in a position to receive what the Spirit would teach us.
The two disciples practiced hospitality by inviting Jesus to spend the evening and eat with them. In that meal, their eyes were open. Jesus appeared to the disciples in Jerusalem as they gathered together, discussing the news of Jesus’s resurrection. In that appearance, Jesus opened their minds to understand the scriptures.
So how do we place ourselves in a position for the Spirit to teach us? Luke’s account gives us hints. We live together in spiritual community, sharing and discussing our experiences of God in our lives. We study the scriptures together in spiritual community—as well as personally—seeking insight into the character of God and the ways of God. We support one another as we seek to put those teachings into practice in our lives (Acts 2:42, 44-47). We intentionally walk in relationship with God, opening ourselves to God and the Spirit in prayer—what Jesus called “abiding” (John 15:1-11).
As we engage in these spiritual practices—and others, we are intentional about giving the Spirit the opportunity to open our hearts and minds to understand the truths of God and the ways of God. In doing so, we experience the Risen Christ in our lives today.
May it be so for each of us!
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