Scripture:
Luke 10:23-24: Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
Observation:
It is quite clear that the disciples of Christ had little or no idea Who it was that was among them. The name “Emmanuel”, applied by the prophet Isaiah to the Messiah who was to come, means “God with us” but the followers of Jesus’ earthly ministry would only understand that fully when He ascended to heaven and they were given revelation by the Holy Spirit. So this announcement would have (or could have) bridged that gap in understanding. Jesus’ coming was the culmination of the divine plan, one announced for millennia before. And all those given the vision of hope and fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan only saw in part. They were given a promise of One who was to come but had nothing vivid to hang their hopes upon. But to the disciples of Christ and all who came after them, the mystery has been displayed and fog has been lifted; Jesus’ life has been opened and the nature of God made known for the person who has seen Jesus has seen the Father. “Blessed are the eyes” – that is, happy, fulfilled and chosen are those whose experience in life includes Jesus. Why? Because so, so many had longed to see Him before but had not. They had longed to hear His words but could not. The ancient, historical spiritual lineage of promise through Abraham all reached its goal in that one life. Those who were born in that age lived their entire lives and passed away with only a pointer to Jesus. And then He came, and His own people did not recognize Him or follow Him. How many others were there who paid His visit to planet earth no mind at all? What they saw or heard made no impression whatsoever though it was the most stunning time in human history.
Application:
If what Jesus said and did was the culmination of all the ages, why do I listen to anything or anyone else? His Word and His deeds should dominate my consciousness. I was not an eyewitness to His life on earth; I receive and believe that by faith. But I have his witness in my life if I will listen to it. I need to give Him my attention and my best efforts. I need to stop being so impressed with the accomplishments and sayings of great men, though they build the world’s greatest things and speak with great mental inspiration. For that acclaim is contagious; it will run my imagination toward its proud fame. This is Jesus, not a CEO, not a star of the stage or the studio and not even a self-promoter. He lived a blood and guts life among the shamed and dirty, so if I am hearing what He said and seeing what He did then I will pick up His purposes in and through my life and submit to the working power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish whatever He will. But to hear and see what the disciples heard and saw means to put away the world, like a shiny plaything that would call out to be held and fondled. In its place is the cross, and death. There is sorrow and pain, loss and bereavement in that but vibrant eternal life with overflowing, popping expressions of the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit on the other side. Of COURSE this is only possible through faith – I must believe that Luke was who the Bible says he was and that did a good job in his investigative reporting and that the people he talked to said what actually happened. I do believe that and so I agree that my eyes are blessed to see those things by faith and my ears to hear them.
Prayer:
Father, grant me a perspective that sees Jesus for all He is, conquering King of heaven’s armies and Lord and Savior and Servant of the Most High God. Grant that I could really know that and walk in the truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.
