In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 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.”
Comment: A short passage this morning but it has a strong message. Jesus describes God and knowing Him with several emphases.
- He calls Him ‘Father.’ This tells us that God is a God with a desire for a relationship. It reminds us that when Jesus taught His disciples He told them to call God ‘Our Father.’ As well as being the Creator, with all the authority and power and position which that gives Him, He wants a Father/Child relationship with human kind.
- What does ‘Lord of heaven and earth’ mean? Obviously it means the Lord of creation extended beyond life on the face of the earth. But I wonder if ‘earth’ refers to this life and ‘heaven’ refers to the unseen world. The world of the angels and of those who have passed through death?
- The Father is not known because of, or by, man’s wisdom and understanding. People can’t find Him that way. He reveals Himself to those who with child-like faith approach Him. This type of faith I have seen referred to in a previous passage.
- Jesus says that He, Himself, is central in getting to know the Father.
- He claimed to be the promised One whom God had promised in the Old Testament times that He would send. He was the One longed for by prophets and kings of the past, but now was being seen by His disciples with their eyes and being heard speaking by their ears.
Prayer: I don’t ask for an immediate total understanding of all these matters, but I would walk in and towards the light of your truth.
As I read it! 