For example, let's look at something that happened after the resurrection. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and some of the women who had ministered to Jesus came to the sepulchre that first Easter morning.
Idle Tales
They saw the empty grave, and two angels spoke to them saying, "He is not here, but is risen..." (Luke 24:6). Then the women went to tell the disciples the good news.
[the women] returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.The disciples didn't believe the women's report that Jesus was alive. Their words seemed as "idle tales" to the disciples because the eyes of their hearts were not yet opened or enlightened by the Word. God had to open their understanding so they could comprehend the events that had just transpired.
(Luke 24:9-11)
You see, the Word of God is a sealed Book to many people. That's why even some Christians say, "I just can't understand the Bible."
We find an example of two men in the Bible who were like that until Jesus opened the eyes of their understanding by opening the truth of the Word to them.
These two men walked along the road to Emmaus on that first Easter day so long ago. Suddenly a stranger came along and joined Himself with them.
He began to question them about what they were discussing. They said to Him, "You must be a stranger in Jerusalem. Don't you know what's been happening?"
And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.Jesus said that it was because the disciples were "slow of heart" that their eyes were "holden" or spiritually closed so they didn't know Him. Well, how did Jesus get their spiritual eyes opened or enlightened?
(Luke 24: 15-16)
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself....
And it came to pass, as he [Jesus] sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and he vanished out of their sight.
And they said one to another, did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
(Luke 24:25-27, 30-32)
He unveiled the Word to them! He opened the truths of the Word so they could see Him in the Scriptures. Verse 27 says, "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."
Jesus had to open the Scriptures to these two disciples before they could understand the Word.
Jesus the Living Word opened and revealed the written Word to them.
Walk With The Master
These two disciples were receptive to the Word, so it got into their hearts. Once they received the Word "...their eyes were opened, and they knew him." The Word opened their eyes so they could know Jesus!
You see, the eyes of their understanding had to be opened before they could understand the truth of God's Word. The Bible said that when the eyes of their hearts were opened, then they knew Him (v. 31).
You see, my friend, in order for this marvelous Book—the Bible—to be opened to you, you have to walk with the Master.
That's the reason the Bible is a closed Book to some Christians. Many of them are not walking with Jesus in close fellowship; they are following Him afar off.
When you follow Jesus afar off, you can be "slow of heart" even as those disciples were on the road to Emmaus.
But when believers walk closely to the Lord and ask Him to open their spiritual eyes, they can begin to see truths in the Word they've never seen before.
by Kenneth E. Hagin.
Excerpt permission granted by Faith Library Publications