Blessed are the eyes that see what you see
Luke 10:17-37
Key Verse 10:23
“Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.”
I heard one man shared his story. One day he went home, and his wife was watching singing contest which lasted about 20 minutes. It was so boring to him because he was never interested in singing, and he never thought about going to a singing contest and nothing. He just watched it because his wife watched. After 20 minutes he went to take shower. While he was taking shower to his great surprise he was thinking about what kind of song he would choose if he went to a singing contest although he had never thought about going to a singing context at all throughout his entire life. The story shows how powerful influence of what he saw brought upon his life. In addition, someone says our inner brain does not know the difference between what we see in our minds and what we see with our physical eyes. What we see in our mind works the same as the reality we see with our eyes. The man watched singing contest for 20 minutes, and if was as if he were in the singing contest in his actual life. It just shows the power of what we see.
In today’s passage, Jesus said to his disciples, ““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.”
So today we want to think about why Jesus said it was such a blessing to see and hear what Jesus says and does. So today we want to think about ‘why is seeing and hearing what Jesus said and did so much blessing?’
Part I. Because you have hidden these things (v.17-21)
Verses 17-20
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Last Sunday we learned what the seventy two did. They went out to every town, and they proclaimed the kingdom of God, and drove out demons and healed the sick. They also delivered the message of judgment for those who rejected them. When they returned they returned with joy. Why were they joyful? It was because they experienced the powerful authority of Jesus working in their field work. So they returned with joy and said, ““Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” At first they might not believe the demons would submit to them in Jesus’ name. But after they personally experienced the submission of demons in Jesus’ name they were excited. They were so joyful and victorious as if Jesus’ authority was their authority.
When Jesus heard what they said, he did not say, “Well done, my good and faithful disciples. You did a fabulous job. I will reward you.” But rather he said , “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Firstly, Jesus mentioned the power of Satan became weak when his seventy two disciples preached the kingdom of God and drove out demons and healed the people.
Secondly, Jesus mentioned that the authority he gave them was far superior to all the power of the enemies. It was Jesus’ authority given to his disciples. Therefore it was the authority to trample down on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the enemy. “Snakes and scorpions” probably refers to symbol of all dark forces of evil in heavenly realms. Jesus clearly revealed to them that the authority that he had given them was the authority over all dark forces of evil and enemy, and therefore nothing would harm them.
Jesus’ authority is the all the source of victory over the dark forces of evil in heavenly realms for his disciples. And their battle was not against flesh and blood but against dark forces of evil in heavenly realms. When Jesus sent out 72 disciples, it was as if he went out because he has given them his authority. When we are sent out by Jesus we need to understand that Jesus gives us the authority over all the power of our enemy, and we have all power to be victorious.
Thirdly, Jesus taught them that the source of their joy should be that their names are written in heaven rather than the submission of the spirits. If the disciples rejoiced over the submission of the spirits they could become proud, and then they could become useless to Jesus. Their written names in heaven should be the source of their joy because some people who prophesied and drove out demons and performed miracles in Jesus’ name did not have their names written in heaven.
Matthew 7:22-24
22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
These verses shows that some of those who drove out demons and prophesied and performed miracles in Jesus’ name will not see their names written in heaven. It also means that there are people who do not obey the words of Jesus although God gave them such authority and power to prophecy and drive out demons and perform miracles. So we should fear God and repent when God is still using us although we do not obey his words.
One pastor confessed that he really feared God when he saw that the work of God through him was still prosperous and thriving when he committed sins. It shows the mercy of God, and it calls for our repentance. We should fear God and stop sinning instead of taking advantage of God’s patience and grace.
So real point is whether we obey the word of Jesus. That is what Charles Finney realized. He saw that the bible did not record many mysterious experience of many great men of God. But rather the Bible only recorded their actually changed life according to the word of God. Indeed ‘obedience to the word of God’ is the real test.
Many people might be embarrassed when they could not find their names in heaven when God’s times comes. One man I know shared an interesting story. When we go to heaven we will be surprised by three things. First, we will be surprised by the people who we believe should not be in heaven. Secondly we will be surprised to find the absence of people who we think should be in heaven. Thirdly, we will be surprised that our names are there.
Indeed to have our names written in heaven is so precious because it guaranteed our salvation. When Jesus mentioned about ‘names’ they were not the names of the people who received the message from his disciples but the names of 72 disciples who preached the kingdom of God. It shows the true blessing of 72 disciples who were sent out to preach the kingdom of God. They were the most blessed far more than those who heard the message from them. It is the same with us. When Jesus sends us out we will be blessed the most more than those who will be blessed through our message.
Verse 21.
21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
In this part, Jesus was full of the joy through the Holy Spirit. Why was he so joyful? It was because he was amazed to find how the Father was revealing these things to little children rather than the wise and the learned. One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is joy, and Jesus was full of joy through the Holy Spirit. In verse 21, we see the Trinity God mentioned. The Son praised the Father, and the Holy Spirit brought full joy to the Son, and the Father reveals these things to little children rather than the wise and the learned.
When Jesus found out how the Father revealed these things to little children he ended up praising the Father. He praised him because of the Father’s secret joy. The Father had secret pleasure, and it was to reveal these things to the little children rather than the wise and the learned.
What are ‘these things’? “These things” could refer to what had happened when the 72 disciples were sent out and proclaimed the kingdom of God and healed the sick and drove out demons. The good news was proclaimed, demons were cast out, and sick people were healed. There was such a joy among the people to whom they were sent out and even joy among the disciples. Their joy and what had happened was the preview of the coming of the kingdom of God through Jesus, the promised Messiah. It was the joy that came from the victory in Jesus’ name.
Now why does the Father reveal these things to the little children rather than the wise and the learned? And who are the little children and who are the wise and the learned?
It is not because the Father wanted to hide these things. Even though he revealed these things the wise and learned could not know them. Jesus expressed the truth of it in a way that the Father has hidden these things from the wise and the learned.
Who are the little children? They probably refer to Jesus’ 72 disciples because they could see the work of Jesus. They saw how Jesus’ authority worked and heard what Jesus said, and how the kingdom of God has come among the people.
Who are the wise and learned? They probably refer to the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, and all those who cannot see and hear the work of Jesus although it happened right before their eyes. It is because they thought they were wise and learned they failed to become truly wise and learned. What a paradoxical truth it is! Those who believe they are wise and learned will fail to see and hear what Jesus says and does. Only the little children will see and hear what Jesus does and says because they are humble.
Those who think they are wise and learned will find themselves as fools. It is because what they know is not perfect, but they believe what they know is correct.
For example, here are the world maps. Can you see how we have different maps depending upon where we focus? Can we see North America is only one third of African continent? These different maps show different views of people although they all talk about the same earth. If someone is so sure about his own map he will certainly fail to see the truth picture of the earth.
These maps show that we can see different world maps depending upon how we see it or what we put the center of the map. But suppose there are people who believe that their map is the only true map. And then they will fail to see how the map would be different from other point of view. And they will fail to learn the true reality of the earth.
I asked two spiritually well educated people with one question. It is ‘what did you learn the most from your education?’ Both of them had the same answer. They said that they realized that what they know is not so absolute including the interpretation of the Scriptures. What they said shows that truly wise and learned men are those who know they are limited in knowledge. They are the ones who open their eyes to see and hear what Jesus says and does through their humility.
Indeed it is the Father’s secret pleasure to reveal these things to little children rather than the wise and the learned.
Part II. All things have been committed to me (v.22-24)
Look at verses 22.
22 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Now here in verse 22 Jesus is talking about ‘all things’ after he talked about ‘these things’ in verse 21. Now he claims that all things have been committed to him by his Father. It means that the Father put all things under his authority. Furthermore no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
The Father and the Son have perfect knowledge toward each other. In fact, the Son and the Father are one, and they have complete mutual knowledge. And we can know the Father only through the Son if he chooses to reveal him to us.
Indeed no one can know the Father without the revelation from Jesus. No one can know the Son without the revelation from the Father. Apostle Paul studied the Scriptures so much but he could not know Jesus, the Son, until the Son revealed himself to him.
The Father and the Son have a perfect mutual knowledge. In fact, the Father and the Son are one according to Jesus’ claim.
John 14:10-11
10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
Now look at verses 23 and 24.
23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 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.”
Here, ‘what you see’ and ‘what you hear’ refer to the work of the promised Messiah, Jesus. Indeed to hear and see what the promised Messiah would do was the longing of many prophets and kings. Jesus’ disciples were so blessed to see and hear what Jesus said and did.
Now why did Jesus say that his 72 disciples were so blessed when they saw what they had seen and heard what they heard? Of course they were so blessed to see the promised Messiah and his work and the preview of the kingdom of God.
In addition, there is another blessing – that is they can also do the same great work Jesus was doing.
My daughter Mary graduated from Harvard law school 3 days ago. I asked her if she regretted even a little bit to go to Harvard giving up full scholarship from USC. She said she will never regret. I asked her ‘why’? She told me that she would never learn how to improve her performance that much without going to Harvard. At Harvard she saw that everyone did incredible work, and because she saw everyone did such a tremendous work she also could improve her performance so much. If she had not have such privilege to see such talented people and their performance she would never be able to develop such performance for her own. What she saw and heard from Harvard helped her to develop her capability which she did not know she had.
I believe the same truth applies to us. We may not have such intelligence of Harvard law school students, but we have greater privilege and blessings. When we see and hear what Jesus said and did and when we have such privilege to see and hear him. We realize that we have such potential to do what he did and said. We are so motivated to do what Jesus said and did.
Because Jesus’ disciples saw and heard what Jesus did and said they could do what Jesus was doing. In fact, Jesus said in John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”
We also heard what Jesus said and did. Jesus served his disciples and gave his life as a ransom for many on the cross. We also heard what Jesus said in Luke 6:27-36
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Because we heard what Jesus said and saw what he did, and because he gave us his authority and his Spirit, we can also do the same things. If we had not seen what Jesus said and did we might not know that we have such potentiality. But since we had such a blessing to see and hear what he did and said, we can certainly live as children of the Most High and follow Jesus’ example to go and proclaim the kingdom of God.
We can certainly do what Jesus has been doing and even more. We can certainly live as children of the Most High. People in the world, unbelievers, do not have such privilege to see and hear what we see and hear from Jesus and his people. But we are so blessed and privileged to see and hear what Jesus and his disciples did and say, and therefore we can develop our true capability to grow to the full measure of Jesus Christ.
One word: Blessed are the eyes that see what you see
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