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. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and will rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luke 24:44-47

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Today’s passage takes place after Jesus died, was lay dead for three days and rose again. He went to his disciples to remind them of the teaching in the Law of Moses, but they were confused. So Jesus opened their minds to understanding. I love this Scripture because I have experienced Jesus opening my mind as I spent time in His word—I call them “lightbulb moments.” 

For example, Romans 12:1 says, “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.” Another translation uses the term “spiritual” worship. This was another moment when the Lord opened my mind and I understood that I must yield to the Spirit living in me daily, moment by moment, and say no to the things that I want to do—or, my flesh. My surrender to the Spirit is my true worship—worship is found in the surrender. Lightbulb moment. 

Another one has to do with the story of the woman who suffered from bleeding for 12 years. She had faith that if she touched Jesus, she would be healed. Every time I had previously read this story, I thought that she was this super courageous woman with loads and loads of faith to be so bold and actually touch Jesus in a crowd. But as I spent time with this story, I learned that she actually had a tiny bit of faith. She came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe—the very edge—of his cloak (Matthew 9:27). When Jesus noticed what happened, he turned and asked who touched him. But she stayed quiet, afraid to speak up (Mark 5:33). What I realized is that she didn’t need loads of faith; she needed just enough faith—just enough to believe that He could heal her.  To move mountains, you don’t need a lot of faith—you simply need the truth about who Jesus is and what he can do mixed with faith the size of a mustard seed. Lightbulb moment. 

As the disciples followed Jesus for three years, they would go back and forth on who they thought Jesus was—a rabbi, a teacher, a prophet, the Messiah. But when Jesus revealed Himself to them after they all witnessed Him dead on the cross, He gave them a lightbulb moment, and they fully understood that He was (and is) the Son of God. Jesus gave them insight. He gave them knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. The same things He offers to us. I am so thankful that Jesus makes Himself available to anyone who wants to know more about Him. 

Allow Jesus to open your mind to what He may have already revealed to you.

Next Steps

Spend some time reflecting on your own lightbulb moments. Write them down—the Scriptures the spoke to you, where you were when they happened, what was going on in your life at the time, what it meant to you in those moments, and anything else that comes to mind.