Luke 2:44-45

⁴⁴ Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” ⁴⁵ And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

Most Jewish people do not know the Messianic Prophecy written in the Book of Isaiah Chapter 53, or what it refers to. In fact, there is no consensus among the Jewish community about the meaning of this passage. Some reasons for this include: People have not read it, People accept the status quo, People believe it’s irrelevant, and People are indifferent. 

Isaiah chapter 53 is controversial in the Bible that has sparked debate among rabbis for centuries. In the passage, the prophet Isaiah prophesies about the Messiah, including that he would be rejected by his people and suffer and die. 

In the traditional Jewish literature, Isaiah’s texts about the servant are also applied to the Jewish Messiah. However, rabbis used to remove Isaiah 53 from the Haftarah readings in synagogues after it caused arguments and confusion. The haftarah is a selection of readings from the Hebrew Bible’s books of the Prophets that is read in Jewish synagogues after the Torah. Today, when reading Isaiah 52, the reader stops in the middle of the chapter and jumps straight to Isaiah 54 the following week.

Do you know why they skip chapter 53? Because it is God who has shut their understanding of chapter 53. As I mentioned yesterday, unless and until God opens up our minds, we are unable to recognize the Word of God. And if one doesn’t understand the Scripture then they would never know who God is.

After the resurrection Jesus appeared to His disciples and spoke the words in Luke chapter twenty four and verse 44. The Old Testament spoke about Christ and yet the Jewish people to this day are unable to grasp the truth that Jesus Christ indeed is the Messiah.

In verse 45, Jesus opened the disciples understanding and they were able to comprehend the scriptures. Normal people like us are unable to comprehend the scriptures unless Lord Jesus Christ opens our minds. This is the reason even Joseph and Mary were unable to understand the Young Christ.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!