Anchor My Faith

Blessed Are Those Who See and Hear Jesus

Scripture: Luke 10:23-24

In the previous lesson Jesus invited us to take his yoke upon us and learn from him and accomplish doing work with him as we become like him. In this lesson we will be reminded of the privilege we have of knowing Jesus.

^{Lk 10:23} “Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! ²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”’

These same verses are found in Matthew 13:16 – 17, but in a different context. In Matthew the verses under study are found following an explanation of the parable of the sower. In that context the disciples, and later those who are born spiritually, are able to understand the parables while others are not able. Here in Luke the verses follow Jesus speaking about having the authority to make known the Father to those of his choosing. The disciples are privileged to see the Son of God standing before them in the flesh of Jesus.

Whether it be spiritual understanding (Matthew) or seeing Jesus (Luke), this is something that many prophets and kings desired to see but did not. Blessed are those who saw the Son of God in flesh, had the opportunity to converse with him in person, be an eyewitness of his majesty, and see with their own eyes the miracles performed by him. Before them the Word became flesh and they saw “his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

In the Old Testament there were people like Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Hosea who looked to the future, looked to the promises that God had given to them, but they died in faith without seeing and without hearing. The disciples, however, had seen and heard and grew in their understanding and were blessed.

Conclusion

When you read about Jesus in the Scriptures what is your understanding of him and your relationship to him. Do you see him as the Word, the Son of God, who has come to dwell among men in the flesh of a man? Do you see him as the one who spoke the universe into existence and then entered into his creation to live a perfect life and then die to purchase our salvation? Do you see him as the image of the invisible God who has the power to hold all things together? Have you humbled yourself before him in faith in obedience to his will? Among men Jesus is unique and is the one we are to be yoked together with.