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| Gerrit Dou, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons |
You see
here in Luke 24:45 how Jesus not only reminds his disciples of the Scriptures, which they
knew very well but also he opened their minds so they could
understand the Scriptures. They had the Scriptures but they were
coming to them with closed minds. They needed illumination. And
that’s what we all need. You have
heard of the great painter Rembrandt. There is a painting in Amsterdam said to be of his
mother reading the Bible which I always assumed was by him but I
think it is by another artist called Gerrit Dou. The way he paints it
the page of the Bible is lit up and it reflects in her face. Our problem is that we cannot see. We need
first the spectacles of the Word. Then the reading light of the Spirit. Word and Spirit. I wonder if there’s anyone reading this in a sort of halfway position. You’ve seen that the answer is in the Bible. You need a revelation. You need to see behind the curtain. But you’re reading it and not making much progress. You are looking behind the curtain but it all still seems dark. Have you seen your need for illumination too? That’s why we usually pray before reading the Word. We need light to see the light. In your light let me see light (Psalm 36:9).
