This morning I am reading from Luke's Gospel, the tenth chapter. There are some significant sections of scripture in this chapter - the story of the good Samaritan, the sending of the 72, the questioning of the most important commandments, but that which caught my heart this morning were the following verses - Luke 10:21-24 NIV:
[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.”
[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.”
The common theme here is one of revelation - The Father revealing things hidden to the children; The Son revealing the Father; those to whom all of this was revealed, namely those that see and hear these things in the present tense being blessed!
It is interesting that revelation, revealing things that were hidden, things that are new is something that please the Father and brings joy to the Holy Spirit. It is also interesting that God doesn't just come out and blaze His glory to everyone, but rather uses people like us to bring it forth. There is something about this hidden nature, this seeking out and revealing that is part of God. He always has new and more revelation and delights in inviting us into the experience of that revelation in our lives.
As Jesus says in verse 22, it is always through relationship that the Father is revealed to us, relationship with the Son. We can have experiences without relationship, but true revelation comes through relationship. The word translated "reveal" is the Greek word Apokalupto. It means to uncover, lay open what has been veiled or covered up; disclose, make bare; to make known, make manifest, disclose what before was unknown. Jesus says that is what He does concerning the Father, shows us things that have been veiled, previously unknown.
This is the nature of all deep relationships, for we are always growing, understanding more, seeing new things, and experiencing each other at deepening levels. I have been married 29+ years and I continue to experience new revelation in my relationship with my honey. Our relationship is always evolving and changing; growing deeper and more thorough.
This is our opportunity in Christ Jesus. All things have been committed to Him by the Father, including the knowing of the Father. Another way to say this is that apart from Jesus we only know the Father partially. It is impossible to have a full revelation of the Father except through Jesus.
Finally we are blessed if we are invited into this revelation, and begin to experience this relationship and its accompanying miracles, signs, wonders, healings and empowering. Many a prophet of old, many a king desired to experience the fullness of what's available to us. It is our hope and prayer that we will experience the same and more. It brings the Holy Spirit joy to reveal these things to such as us!
Amen Lord, we want to see more, and know You more!
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