Rejoicing in what is Best
Notes
Transcript
Pre-Reading Intro
Pre-Reading Intro
Last week we considered together the account of Christ sending out a large group of disciples (either 70 or 72 - it’s uncertain). But that group of disciples was sent out with a specific task at hand. They were told to go into the villages that Christ was yet to pass through, and they were to proclaim the fact that the Kingdom of God was at hand.
As part of that Gospel proclamation, they were given the power and authority by Christ to heal the sick, and to cast out demons. This is a similar kind of power that was given to the 12 disciples when they were sent out previously. And Christ specifically gave them this power in order to authenticate the ministry of the disciples.
Recall that last week we considered that one of the things that Christ did was that he pronounced woes upon various cities because they had failed to accept the king that had come into the world. They had failed to accept that Jesus Christ was the true Messiah, despite the fact that these authenticating miracles were performed by the disciples proclaiming that message.
What we turn our attention to this morning is the time that this group of disciples returns to Jesus and starts to report back to Him what had taken place. In essence they are going to report back the success stories of the missionary journey that they had been on.
As it was for the 12 disciples when they returned, this will be a time that is marked by great joy and celebration. You can imagine why. Here are 72 ordinary men, that are suddenly given power and authority to do amazing miracles. This is going to be an exciting report-back.
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
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.”
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 was your good pleasure.
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.”
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.”
Introduction
Introduction
As we come to this text, the first thing that I would like to touch on is the number of disciples that were sent out on this occassion, and what I believe is the significance and importance of this, particularly in Luke’s Gospel as he presents.
Recall that I mentioned previously that Luke writes his Gospel primarily to Gentile believers. In the introduction in Luke 1, I mentioned that he was writing to most excellent Theophilus, who was very likely a Gentile, probably a Roman official, grappling with the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But throughout his book, Luke speaks to Jesus’ grace towards the Gentiles, the Samaritans… more than any other of the Gospel records.
With that in mind, there is a likely connection between the sending out of the 12 disciples (seen in Luke 9:1-11) and the sending out of the seventy in this case.
If you go to Matthew’s Gospel, and his record of the sending out of the 12, Matthew specifically makes a statement in Matthew 10:5.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans;
6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
In other words, when the 12 were sent out, it was particularly with a focus on the Jewish people, rather than the Gentiles.
If you then bring that into the context of Luke’s Gospel, one of the more prominent views is that the sending out of the 70 disciples in this account was representative that the Gospel was going to go to all nations, rather than just the Jewish people.
The reason that this view holds some weight is that if you go to the book of Gensis, we find recorded what is referred to as the Table of Nations - Genesis 10. You will recall that Genesis 6-9 records for us the account of the Great Flood that flooded all of the world. Noah and his family were saved from that. There were 8 people in all that were saved.
And then Gensis 10 gives a genealogical record of the descendents that came from the sons of Noah - Shem, Ham and Japheth.
32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, by their nations; and out of these the nations were separated on the earth after the flood.
How many different nations were there recorded? The answer to that is, that there were 70. 70 nations from which all the nations were separated on the earth.
And I say that simply to demonstrate that if this view is correct (which I believe seems likely) it’s just another indicator, along with so many others within Scripture, that this Gospel message was for everyone. And Luke was making this very clear as he wrote this Gospel account.
With that in mind, let us look to our text this morning, and consider together the report that the disciples brings to Jesus in terms of what has happened. What is very important from the discussions that unfold is where Christ places his emphasis in terms of that in which the disciples should rejoice in.
Yes, there are good things that we can rejoice in - and then there are things that are of far greater significance that we should rejoice in!
As we come to our text then, consider firstly with me, that disciples of Jesus Christ are to...
1. Rejoice in Eternal Realities (vv.17-20)
1. Rejoice in Eternal Realities (vv.17-20)
In verse 17 of our text, we find the return of the disciples to Jesus, and the report that they bring regarding the successes that they had. This report-back is what will then set up the context for the instructions of Jesus in terms of what disciples ought to rejoice in.
1.1 Rejoicing of Lesser Significance (vv.17-19)
1.1 Rejoicing of Lesser Significance (vv.17-19)
Verse 17 reads...
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
The first thing we see as we consider the disciples coming to Jesus is that they are filled with joy. They are overjoyed at what is unfolding in their midst. We cannot say that their joy was limited to one aspect or another. We cannot say that they were merely rejoicing at the power that they had to cast out demons. Probably their joy was broader than that. It was a joy at the entire thought of what was happening in their day, and then even the kind of power that Christ had, and had chosen to grant to them in some measure.
However, when they report back to Jesus, their focus and their emphasis is on the fact that demons submitted to them. Now, let us be sure that this was no small matter. If we think of Christ’s interactions with demon-possessed people thus far, we know that there didn’t exist in that day a genuine power to deliver people from demon-possession.
We have the account of the demon-possessed man in the temple at Capernaum, that Christ delivered from that demon-possession.
After that encounter, we saw that multitudes of people from Capernaum brought their sick and demon-possessed to Jesus so that he could heal them.
41 Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Christ.
Clearly, the arrival of Jesus into the world marked a particular time of deliverance from demon-possession that was never previously experienced! Now, we do need to understand and acknowledge just how liberating this would have been for all of the people in those regions, who before were so subject to demons, and unable to have any recourse or means of deliverance from these demons. They just didn’t have that power available to them, and so those who were demon possessed (along with their families and friends) were truly subjected to the terrible influence of these demons.
So, when these disciples now return to Jesus, and they are overjoyed, it is because the demons that once so afflicted these people were now subject to and submissive to them. Here was a very real, practical, hope-bringing power that rightly thrilled them.
We must also take note, and give the disciples credit, for the fact that they attributed this ability to Jesus himself. They were not claiming the ability in their own strength, but rather, they were claiming that the demons submitted to them “in your name.” In the name of Jesus Christ. It was only by His power and authority that they were able to do these works.
At this point, we find that Jesus responds to the disicples and their excitement. As He does that, he begins by affirming what the disciples have said, and the excitement that they exhibited.
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.
The first dimension of Christ’s affirmation to his disciples is in terms of the fall of Satan. In other words, Jesus is speaking about how Satan has been brought low through the arrival of the King of the world, Jesus Christ.
Jesus speaks in verse 18 about a “vision” that he had, or rather, something that he saw. Whether this was something that he witnessed in the spiritual realm, or whether it was purely a picture that he was painting for them of something he knew to be the reality, we do not really know. But the the truth is coveyed either way.
Now, we need to ask what Christ meant when he said that Satan was falling from heaven. There are various possibilities and suggestions.
Essentially, Christ says here that he sees the fall of Satan. At least, some kind of a fall of Satan.
Turn with me to Isaiah 14...
If you go back to the Old Testament Scriptures, you find that there are these allusions to what is believed to be referring to the fall of Satan from a position of honour. There are indictions that Satan was an angel of great power and beauty. But in his pride, Satan then sought to usurp the power and authority of God. He was thus thrown down from his high position.
As we pick up in these verses, note that the actual prophecy by Isaiah is against the proud king of Babylon.
3 On the day the Lord gives you relief from suffering and turmoil and cruel bondage, 4 you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon:
How the oppressor has come to an end!
How his fury has ended!
But there is a transition, or at least a dual meaning that comes through in these verses. Note verse 11 of that passage...
11 All your pomp has been brought down to the grave,
along with the noise of your harps;
maggots are spread out beneath you
and worms cover you.
We can see immediately that there is a bringing low of the king. But notice the wording in verses 12 and following:
12 How you have fallen from heaven,
O morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
13 You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.
14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”
15 But you are brought down to the grave,
to the depths of the pit.
While the passage itself speaks about the king of Babylon in that context, the allusion there seems to be beyond the king, and is in actual speaking to a tradition held among the Jews, relating to Satan and his fall from a glorious position in heaven.
We must keep in mind that Scriptures often have dual meaning and fulfilment. An example of this is king Solomon, the son of David who would sit on the throne. But the greater fulfilment is Christ, the true king of David.
Similar to that, we can see a dual allusion in these words. This becomes even more apparent if we look at a similar passage in Ezekiel 28.
Turn to Ezekiel 28.
In this passage, the prophecy from Ezekiel is against the king of Tyre, another king that was oppressing the people of God. Notice the start of that prohecy in verses 1 and 2.
1 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying,
2 “Son of man, say to the leader of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord God,
“Because your heart is lifted up
And you have said, ‘I am a god,
I sit in the seat of gods
In the heart of the seas’;
Yet you are a man and not God,
Although you make your heart like the heart of God—
The King of Tyre is told here that he believes that he is God. He sees is great power and thinks to himself that everyone and everything is in subjection to him, and that no one can take away his power and authority. Pride in the heart of man.
Look down then to verse 11 of that passage. Suddenly, while still speaking to and about the king of Tyre, certain things are mentioned which certainly evoke the thought of something bigger than just the king of Tyre.
11 Again the word of the Lord came to me saying,
12 “Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God,
“You had the seal of perfection,
Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 “You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The ruby, the topaz and the diamond;
The beryl, the onyx and the jasper;
The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald;
And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets,
Was in you.
On the day that you were created
They were prepared.
14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers,
And I placed you there.
You were on the holy mountain of God;
You walked in the midst of the stones of fire.
15 “You were blameless in your ways
From the day you were created
Until unrighteousness was found in you.
16 “By the abundance of your trade
You were internally filled with violence,
And you sinned;
Therefore I have cast you as profane
From the mountain of God.
And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub,
From the midst of the stones of fire.
17 “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;
You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor.
I cast you to the ground;
I put you before kings,
That they may see you.
The clear implication of this text is that it has references to Satan and his fall. Now in this case, the picture of Satan (who, by the way, was behind the working of the evil ruler of Tyre) is a picture of Tyre himself. In other words, the pride of Satan is an example to demonstrate the pride of these wicked rulers.
Bringing these thoughts back to our text, when Jesus speaks in this verse about his vision of Satan being cast down to earth, clearly his words are reminiscent of what has already been said about Satan in the Old Testament. The Old Testament spoke about Satan being cast down - that already in the past tense. But while there may have been a casting down of Satan previously, there is now a different sense, a greater reality as it were concerning the casting down of Satan.
What Jesus is saying to His disciples is that in light of the reality of the fact that they are now given this ability to cast out demons, and have ower to do these amazing works, it demonstrates and proves the fact that Satan and his work and power are being brought low.
Now, we know well that Satan was already humbled prior to the fall of man in Genesis 3. It was Satan in the Garden of Eden, tempting man to go against the command of God. So already then, Satan had been cast down. But Satan would also be brought down further, in the unfolding work of God.
Prior to Christ coming into the world, it is evident that Satan was given much greater freedom to operate and influence within the world, than he would following Christ’s entering into this world. In fact, Christ coming into the world was the point at which Satan would begin to be subdued. And this is what is unfolding in our passage.
As the king of Babylon had been proud of heart, and had subjected people to his own power, thinking that he was the great one, so Satan will be brought low and humbled, since he has been proud of heart.
As the king of Tyre was proud in heart, and thought that he could live as a god, and was thus ultimately brought low by God, so Satan, proud in heart is being brought low.
Jesus says to his disciples that as they were going out, having demons subjection to them, this was evidence that the power of Satan was being stopped. Satan was being brought low. Jesus describes the reality that His Kingdom, His rule, His authority is being brought, as He is the true king.
Jesus sees Satan falling from heaven, as a lightning bolt - in an instant! Satan is being brought low - as the kingdom of Christ is coming to be established.
Apply this now to the link that I mentioned earlier about the 70 going out, and the table of nations. It is not simply to the nation Israel that this power of Christ, the kingdom of Christ is coming. Rather, it is to all the nations, all the people’s of the earth!
With all of that in mind, let us come back to our text. In verse 19, Jesus said…
19 “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.
We must read this in the context of what Jesus is saying, as we have just considered it in verse 18. Jesus is not encouraging his disciples to literally go and tread on serpents and scorpions.
Christ is using figurative language within the context of what is unfolding. Christ has just said, he’s seen Satan fall from heaven. He is being brought low.
And so, the serpents and scorpions are simply used here as pictures of Satan.
Keep in mind, Satan is the deceiver. He is the one that would seek to poison people, in order to bring them to eternal death.
Satan was a serpent in the Garden of Eden.
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.”
That curse that was given to Satan was one of animosity and conflict between Christ and Satan. And the conflict is unfolding. And Jesus says to his disciples here, I’m giving you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions. In other words, to confront the powers of darkness. To confront the forces of darkness through the proclamation of the Gospel.
9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
This is clear as Jesus tells his disciples that he is giving them authority over all the power of the enemy. Who is the enemy? Satan and the workers of darkness. That’s the enemy.
When Christ says here that nothing will harm you, he speaks of nothing standing in the way of you being enfolded and protected in the love of God. Romans 8:28-39 makes this very clear.
35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 Just as it is written,
“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing will injure you, says Jesus to His disciples!!!
With that in mind, we must consider...
1.2. Rejoicing of Eternal Significance (v.20)
1.2. Rejoicing of Eternal Significance (v.20)
At this point, Jesus proceeds to teach his disciples about that which is of greatest importance and significance in terms of their own rejoicing. There was a place, and it was in one sense right and understandable for the disciples to rejoice as people that the demons were in subjection to them by the authority of Christ.
But there was something that is of far greater value and importance for them that they ought to have been rejoicing in!
Note what Jesus goes on to say in verse 20.
20 “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”
As we consider these words, we must not think that Jesus is giving an outright rebuke for rejoicing in the submission of spirits to these men. That was certainly something that Christ gave them power to do, and it was something that delivered people from the oppression of Satan, as they were delivered from demon-possession. Praise God when this happens!!
What Christ is saying is that these disciples have something of far greater value and importance, something of eternal value and significance, and that is that their names are written in heaven.
When Christ says this, He is encouraging them through the truth that they will have an eternity in glory worshiping God in His very presence.
Jesus here points his disciples not to the power that they have in the immdiate context in the world. Rather, he directs them to look forward to the future, and to consider the eternal realities that are being brought into focus even as they are granted power in this moment.
The reality is that there exist eternal realities for all people. For some, their eternal reality is one of darkness and gloom. It is one of suffering and pain in an eternity of separation from God.
For others, it is an eternity of joy, worshiping God in His very presence.
This idea is recorded for us in the prophecy of Daniel...
1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
This truth is then picked up in the book of Revelation, as John received that vision on Patmos…
5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
As Christ speaks to his disciples here, he tlls them that although it is a good thing that they have this power and authority to do these works, there is something that is of far greater value and significance. There is the wonderful truth that your names are recorded in the lamb’s book of life.
The idea of the “book of life” was an important concept within their cultural context. The idea behind it was that kings in those days would keep detailed records of those that belonged to a particular kingdom. If your name was written in the books, then you had the full rights of a citizon. Think of Paul - he had th right to a fair trial as a citizen, and not to be thrown into prison without that fair trial. He had the right to appeal to Caesar in order to present his case.
These rights and privileges were a high honor for those that had them. In terms of Rome, those whose names were written in the records were entitled to property and protection under the laws of the land.
Jesus is saying to these disciples that their names are written in the lambs book of life, and they are thus entitled to the full rights of being a citizen of heaven.
In the mind of Christ, whatever rejoicing the disciples may have had due to the power and authority they were able to exercise in the present life, that rejoicing paled in comparison to the rejoicing that should flow out of them due to their eternal future being secure.
I must ask, firstly, is your name written in the lamb’s book of life? By that I mean, have you confessed before God that you are a sinner, and then turned to Christ in repentance and faith. Have you submitted yourself to him?
If you have, then rejoice dear Brother / Sister. Nothing in this world, however great it may appear, can compare with the joy of knowing that your eternity in glory is secure, and that in Christ Jesus you have been given the full rights of being a citizen of heaven!!
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
That power is for our salvation, that we may spend eternity with Christ. That is worth rejoicing in!! That is where our rejoicing ought to be as Christians!
Secondly from our passage, we must...
2. Rejoice in God’s Revelation (vv.21-23)
2. Rejoice in God’s Revelation (vv.21-23)
At this point, Jesus suddenly bursts into a wonderful expression of His own great joy at what God is revealing in this moment. Christ is rejoicing.
There are three things that we note concerning this rejoicing in God’s revelation.
Firstly, it is...
2.1. Revealed to the Lowly (v.21)
2.1. Revealed to the Lowly (v.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 was your good pleasure.
One commentator notes:
Luke, Volumes 1 & 2 The Greatest Joy of All
The word that Luke uses here for rejoicing is more intense than any other word for joy, including the other terms that he has used in this very passage. The Greek word agalliaō is a word for exuberant ecstasy, for complete exultation in the fullness of joy. When we see why Jesus was rejoicing, we can understand why Luke used it here. Jesus rejoiced to see Satan defeated and to give the free gift of eternal life. But here was an even greater joy because it took place within the triune being of God, who exists eternally as one God in three persons.
Christ rejoices here.
The first point of rejoicing by Jesus was the fact that all of these things were being revealed to what he terms little children. In contrast to that, all of these things have been hidden from the wise and learned.
We must not see that in any way in a derogatory sense. Even for us as the church, we know that the Scriptures speak about those who are young in the faith being as children. We find continuous exhortations for Christians to grow up to maturity in their faith.
What Christ is thus saying here is that God has chosen, in his wisdom, to keep these things hidden from those who saw themselves to be spiritually mature. They were hidden from the religious leaders of the day that thought themselves to be giants in following God, whereas they never truly knew him. Their hearts were far from him.
The disciples, on the other hand, were not trained as the religious leaders were in terms of the Old Testament Scriptures. They were thought to be uneducated in the religious teachings of their day. And this was a genuine observation. They were truly infants in that sense.
But this was a point of rejoicing for Jesus. The reason was that the religious leaders were wise in their own eyes. They were proud of heart. They were self-exalting (even while pretending to be self-abasing.) They would put on a show, but they saw themselves as great.
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
One commentator writes:
Luke 10:21–24 The Rejoicing of Jesus
In the spiritual sense “babes” are those who have no confidence in self but are conscious of their complete dependence on the might and mercy of the heavenly Father, in whom they have placed their trust:
This is the sense in these disciples. They were not great religious people. They were not supremely devout Jews. They were ordinary people. In terms of their spiritual learning and understanding, they knew comparitively little.
But God’s ways were being revealed to them in a powerful way. God’s work was on display, even to these who were comparatively lowly!
Secondly, in terms of rejoicing in this revelation of God, we must note that it is...
2.2. Revealed Through Christ (v.22)
2.2. Revealed Through Christ (v.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.”
In that first line in verse 22, Jesus claims that “all things have been committed to me by my Father.” Here was an exceedingly strong affirmation by Jesus Christ that he was no less than co-equal with God.
All things belong to the Son. The sovereign power, the authority of the Father, belongs to the Son.
Significantly, in the context of the passage here, the authority and the ability to give life to those who are dead in transgression and sin, belong to the Son.
Christ says in our passage that no one knows the Father, except the Son. The Son is the one that comes from the Father.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
Christ came from the Father, with a full knowledge of the Father. He is one with the Father, and came in order to bring the truth concerning who God was to mankind.
What is happening here is that these disciples are receiving the revelation of the true power of God, of the chosen King in God’s Kingdom. It is only through Jesus Christ, the Son, that this revelation comes. And it is only the ones to whom the Son chooses to reveal these things that they are revealed.
I want to just point out the beautiful unity in the work of God, and the work of the Son. God is the One that gives His chosen ones to the Son. But the Son then reveals God to those that have been given to Him.
6 “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.
Christ has already said to these disciples that their names have been written in the lambs book of life. It is only so because Christ has shown himself to them by the will of the Father.
Two things to keep in mind. We must worship Christ for revealing himself to us that we might know him. This is a great privilege.
And secondly, we must rejoice in the fact that those who are truly in Christ are kept by Him. This gives us assurance. When Christ spoke to His disciples earlier, he encouraged by the fact that they were citizens of heaven. Their names were in the lambs book of life.
While we must not presume upon the grace of God, and we must heed the warnings of Scripture not to walk away from Christ, we can also live with an assurance of our eternity with Christ, because that salvation is by the grace of Christ, and by His will.
Thirdly and finally in terms of rejoicing in God’s revelation, we must note that it is...
2.3. Revealed as Promised (v.23-24)
2.3. Revealed as Promised (v.23-24)
23 Turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see,
24 for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.”
Christ declares here that the Revelation of God that was being shown to these disciples, yes, even the true nature of the Son as the true Son of God, and the King of the eternal kingdom, is the revelation greater than any in history. Essentially, Christ is saying that in Him is the fullness of the revelation of God to mankind.
The prophets and the kings in the Old Testament days longed to see the things that were promised. The prophet Isaiah saw only glimpses of the coming glory of the kingdom.
41 These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him.
That is, of Christ.
David, when he penned the words of Psalm 110, wrote.
1 The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at My right hand
Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
Here was a foretaste, and small glimpse of the one that was to come.
All that was revealed to the prophets and kings under the Old Covenant pointed forward to the ultimate reality that was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
The disciples in the day that they lived were beholding the greatest revelation from God, the very Son himself.
1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,
2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
This is the very man that the disciples beheld. And the very fact of this brought great joy to the Son.
Conclusion
Conclusion
I must close..
Much has been said. I close just with a charge to all of us. That we would see the exceedingly great joy and privilege that it is to know Jesus Christ, and to be found in Him.
To this end, I close with the words of Graham Kendrick’s song:
All I once held dear, built my life upon
All this world reveres, and wars to own
All I once thought gain I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to this
Knowing you, Jesus
Knowing you, there is no greater thing
You're my all, you're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love you, Lord