WATCHWORD:
44 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things.49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Luke 24:44-49
Meditation:
Here Comes Pentecost
As the Spirit has moved us in our Christian walk, we hear more and more that the Old Testament is all about Jesus Christ. There are books written and studies addressing this very topic. When you take this seriously, spending time in Old Testament books and chapters you may find yourself questioning, where, where is Jesus in that passage? Maybe you’re looking with the wrong set of eyes.
If we start with the clear assumption that the Old Testament is, indeed, all about Jesus Christ, and you consider the power of the Holy Spirit in whatever portion of that Testament you are reading, the grand design of the Triune God is to reveal Christ exactly at the right time in His story. If you’re looking for posted notes with little arrows pointing to, “There He is”, then you are sure to be disappointed.
The disciples struggled with this. They had come a long way as they have walked with Jesus. From the beginning, to almost the very end of Jesus’ earthly life, they were expecting him to emerge as a military leader overthrowing Rome. Their thinking may have shifted to such events as parting of the Red Sea and the many stories of miraculous events, thinking that Jesus might be a miracle worker, with a different twist. So Jesus’ plan to overthrow Rome would have a different look, and they would be right in so many wrong ways.
Then on the hillside, outside of Capernaum, just days after the Resurrection, the truth of Christ’s role gradually came to them. They began to realize that Moses was actually proclaiming the coming of the Messiah. That David was the forebear of that Good News. That Joseph laid the groundwork for a different perspective on compassion and the hand of God in our lives. It finally dawned on them that they had been with The Son of God from the start.
It was at the gathering of the followers, that He taught, and laid God’s plan all out for them to understand. It was there that the promise was made for the coming of the advocate, the helper, the Holy Spirit. Just fifty days later, at Pentecost, they finally understood.
For us it’s so much easier to look at the Old Testament and know, by faith, that it is all about Jesus Christ, it is all about God. The Triune God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ, God incarnate. For the humans that walked this earth at that time they needed a person and so the image of Jesus was portrayed in so many of those persons that we meet in the Old Testament. In so much of our faith journey, when we seek with spiritual eyes, we see beyond the veil.
Take another prayerful look inside the Old Testament, read with spiritual eyes, pause and talk with the Almighty along way, and see beyond the veil. So be it.
Words of Truth:
When Praises go up to God, His blessings come down. Praise Him!
Closing Prayer:
Lord of the Harvest, You gave Your disciples the mandate to be Your witnesses around the world and empowered them with Your Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost to accomplish this task. Today, we ask that You help us to refocus our attention, as we face a task unfinished. Help us to understand all of Your blessed Word, Old and New. You have blessed us with the power and the gift of Your Holy Spirit. Help us to use these for ministry and to witness. Amen.
