Dear Church of the Open Bible,
Have you ever been given a misdiagnosis? I have throat and stomach issues stemming from an accident 20 years ago, and I’ve experienced a variety of diagnoses. From barium swallows to scopes, none of the information gathered has produced an accurate diagnosis and/or effective measures to counteract my condition. I want to be quick to add that what I experience is a minor inconvenience compared to the struggles of others, but it is difficult to fix a problem when you’re unsure about the problem itself.
This is what Jesus does for the disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35. They were struggling with the reality of Jesus’ death. They had heard, via others, that Jesus was possibly alive, but they had not seen Him. So, before revealing Himself to them physically, Jesus reveals Himself to them spiritually, in the Old Testament Scriptures (24:26-27). Below are some of those Scriptures for you to look over. But ultimately, it wasn’t a lack of information that was the problem. That would be a misdiagnosis. Listen to Jesus diagnose the issue:
And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” - Luke 24:25
Jesus will walk them through Scripture that they had heard many times before. But this time, the eyes of their hearts will be opened to trust that Jesus is the fulfillment of these passages (24:32). He focuses on their hearts. So, how might you be “slow of heart to believe” all that you’ve read and heard, all of who Jesus is and what He has done? As you read through these passages, may the thrill of recognizing Jesus come from increased trust that He is exactly who God planned for long ago, and exactly who you and I need.
Passage’s Pointing to Jesus Christ:
- Genesis 3:14-15 - A Seed of Hope
- Genesis 49:8-12 - The Lion of the Tribe of Judah
- Numbers 24:5-19 - The Star & Scepter of Jacob
- Deuteronomy 18:15-22 - A Prophet Like Moses
- 2 Samuel 7:12-16 - The Promised King
- Psalm 2 - The Sonship of the Promised King
- Psalm 110 - The Priest-King
- Isaiah 7-11 - The Divine King
- Ezekiel 34 - The One Shepherd
- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 - The Humble King