Blessed are the Eyes!

Luke 10:17-24

Key Verse 23 “Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.”

Introduction

Today’s passage is a continuation of the previous passage(10:1-16). Their mission journeys were quite successful and they were very excited like little children. As the good Shepherd for them, Jesus guided them into the right path. May the Holy Spirit guide us in the same way so that we may be a part of God’s glorious salvation work and never lose our focus.

1. Read verses 17-20. When the seventy-two returned with joy, what was their testimony? (17) How does Jesus reply to them? (18-19) What enabled them to overcome all the evil powers of their enemies? What should be the reason for their joy? (20)

1-1, Read verses 17-20.

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.”

1-2, When the seventy-two returned with joy, what was their testimony? (17)

“Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

• When we look at the command Jesus gave these seventy, we see that Jesus had not originally told them to cast out demons as He did the twelve disciples in Luke 9:1-2. Therefore, this was an unexpected blessing of their ministry.

• When we obey and do what Jesus tells us to do, we should expect that He would bless us with even more than He told us to expect.

Luke 10:5-9 read,

“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. 8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’”

Luke 9:1-2 read,

“When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”

1-3, How does Jesus reply to them? (18-19)

“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.

1-4, What enabled them to overcome all the evil powers of their enemies?

• It was thanks to Jesus who is the only one to defeat such evils powers.

• In the first place, they should see their small victories as merely a part of God's complete victory over Satan.

• God Almighty can toss Satan around like a lightning bolt. Jesus shares this authority with his servants.

• We must keep our eyes on Jesus who gives us victory. This gives us assurance of eternal victory; nothing can harm us.

• What Jesus just saw in the disciples was evidence that Satan had already lost his position of power. He is a conquered enemy, and when we act in the name of Jesus, victory is assured.

Ezekiel 28:14-19 read,

You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. 16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. 17 Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. 18 By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. 19 All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’”

Revelations 20:1-3, 10 read,

And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

1-5, What should be the reason for their joy? (20)

“However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

• They were joyful because the spirits submitted to them.

• However Jesus told them not to rejoice simply because the spirits submitted to them, but to rejoice that their names are written in heaven.

• Jesus means that apostles must find true grounds for joy in the fact that through the grace of God, their names are written in the heavenly register.

• It is the book of life or the book of the Lamb.

• It does not mean that their names are automatically there for good. Rather they better maintain their humility before Jesus and keep their faith to the end.

Exodus 32:33 reads,

“The LORD replied to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.”

Jeremiah 17:13 reads,

“LORD, you are the hope of Israel; all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living water.”

Revelation 22:19 reads,

“And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.”

• Also having our "names written in heaven" (20) means that God knows us and we know him just as we are adopted co-heirs with Jesus. Knowing God gives us eternal life.

John 17:3 reads,

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

• This is the best blessing God can give, the treasure that surpasses all others. We have already received this by faith in Jesus.

• Regardless of our performance, our lives are secure in God. This gives us true spiritual joy in any circumstance.

2. Read verses 21-22. What caused Jesus to be filled with joy and praise God?

Why do you think the secrets of kingdom are hidden to the wise and learned, and are revealed to little children? What do you think is the relationship between Jesus and His Father? (21b-22a) Who only knows who the Son is or who the Father is? (22b)

2-1, Read verses 21-22.

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. 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.”

2-2, What caused Jesus to be filled with joy and praise God?

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.

• Jesus' joy was through the Holy Spirit. Humanly Jesus could have been sorrowful for himself for he had to go through crucifixion. But he did not.

• He rejoiced. He rejoiced in God’s way of working. He was full of joy and praise his Father.

• As Jesus, the creator of the universe worked with the co-founders, the Holy Spirit and his Father in heaven, Jesus seems to give the credit or share glory with each other.

• Jesus’ joy also prompts Him to praise God the Father for His wisdom, for His plan, and for His own unique relationship with God the Father.

• And he praised his Father who is the Lord of heaven and earth for what he revealed to little children, 72 other disciples.

2-3, Why do you think the secrets of kingdom are hidden to the wise and learned, and are revealed to little children?

• It has to do with their trust, humility and obedience.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 read,

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

2-4, What do you think is the relationship between Jesus and His Father? (21b-22a)

Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. 22 “All things have been committed to me by my Father.

• Jesus points out that His unity with the Father and His special relationship with the Father.

• Jesus further rejoiced in his personal relationship with the Father.

• The word, “Father” is repeated five times and “the Son”, three times. (21, 22)

• He appreciated the Father's trust and the unique knowledge they shared about each other.

• In a word, Jesus' joy stemmed from his own personal relationship within the Trinity, not from the situation or the small victories the disciples had won.

• Also Jesus indirectly expresses his deep human loneliness and the agony of taking up his mission, especially when he resolutely headed for Jerusalem.

“All things have been committed to me by my Father”

• No one seems to understand the core of his Father in heaven’s heart regarding who Jesus truly is and what his Father is doing in and through him.

• However Jesus was very happy because of the fact that God, his Father, knows him and he knows God.

• Jesus was sure about his close love relationship with God.

• This was the very power source of Jesus, and it was the cause of all his victories on earth.

2-5, Who only knows who the Son is or who the Father is? (22b)

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.”

• We are allowed to be a part of that special love relationship through personal revelation. Praise Jesus!

John 17:6-19 read,

I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.

3. Read verses 23-24. What did Jesus tell to his disciples privately? (23) Why are the eyes of the disciples so blessed? (24) How blessed do you think you are like them?

3-1, Read verses 23-24.

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.”

3-2, What did Jesus tell to his disciples privately? (23)

• Jesus further taught his disciples to rejoice over their unique place in God's history.

3-3, Why are the eyes of the disciples so blessed? (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.”

• How the great men of the Old Testament would have longed to see Jesus’ ministry and to minister for Him!

• How David would have loved to see Jesus do the things He did, and how Isaiah would have longed to hear what Jesus said! We have these privileges, but they did not.

• They had the privilege of living with the Son of God in the flesh.

3-4, How blessed do you think you are like them?

• While we do not share that privilege, we are also greatly blessed for we can see how God is fulfilling world salvation.

• We can hear about what God is doing all over the world every day! We have enough reasons to rejoice in Jesus.

Conclusion

This is a snapshot for God’s great work in and through ordinary people who were called to proclaim the kingdom of God. From a worldly point of view, they were nothing but a handful of low class people. But to Jesus’ eyes, they were the most privileged and blessed people of all times for our God is rejoiced with them. May the Lord help us to have a complete unity with Jesus and to be more than conquerors like our Lord Jesus Christ who is the author of our faith. Amen.

One word: Blessed are you!

---