While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

–Parallel verses:
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

When learning to drive, the first part of the exercise is focused on the rules and learning what you can and can’t do while operating a vehicle. “You have to wait at the stop sign”, “you have to turn your blinker on and wait for space to change lanes”, “you must pull over for emergency vehicles”, etc. Then you get to learn how to operate the vehicle, brakes, steering wheel, mirrors, gas pedal, etc. All of this is useful, but it does not mean you are a good driver yet.

To be a good driver, you have to take a step of faith and drive your vehicle. Usually you have a predetermined destination in mind. Most of the time, this is done with a driving instructor or experienced driver riding with you.

In the spiritual world of knowing God and following Jesus, it can be a similar process. We read the Bible to understand what are the rules or parameters under which we should live to follow Jesus. We may spend some time reflecting on whether we think we can figure life out on our own or we need help. Life throws us curve balls and we usually realize that we need help. Then we decide if we want to commit to following Jesus or not. If we do, he then guides us in how to live spiritually under his direction while we live physically in this world. In this passage he personally did this for his disciples. Now, he sends his Holy Spirit into our hearts.

This opening or renewing of our minds is incredible and brings us extreme joy and excitement in life! We get to act as God’s agents, ambassadors, or vessels on this earth. He gives us the ideas, the power to execute them, and brings us the help from others as well.

I love this passage because it so clearly describes that though the disciples had been around Jesus for years every day, their minds had not yet been opened to understanding God’s will and his ways, surrounding Jesus being the Messiah to eternally save them, until now.

We must seek after God hard and long, and he will open our mind to his ways more and more. So the encouragement is to not be discouraged or to quit too early in your pursuit of a relationship with God. Continue to have faith and dig into his word and prayer and worship, and he will show you his heart. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.’” (II Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬). We can have his light shining in our hearts, if we are faithful!

Lord, thank you for the pursuit of a relationship with you, which has rewards along the way. Every day, may I faithfully seek you wherever you may be found. And I trust you will show me more and more of yourself!