Matthew 13:16-17 NASBS
But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. [17] For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
These verses have always had a great impact on me, and it has always sparked a strong desire in me to grow closer to Jesus.
Throughout history, prophets and kings wished to have what the disciples had, which was face-to-face communication with God in human form. That is, to hear His words, to see with their own eyes, and to personally feel Him for who He truly was.
They saw all of the miracles taking place right in front of their very eyes. The multiplication of food. The visions of kindness towards the needy and the frustration with religious hypocrites were on the horizon.
All of the words of understanding. All of the words of wisdom where there. All the power manifested right in front of their very eyes.
Then they were witness to all of the cultural upheaval his actions caused in the society of their day and age. He treated women with the same regard and esteem that he did males. He had a soft spot for sinners and a healing touch for those suffering from leprosy. He blessed disruptive children. He was attracted to the unlivable and went out to those who had been rejected.
Then we see God manifested in the person of Jesus Christ, who is clad in humility like no one else before Him. A love-inspired humility exhibited in front of them.
When he washed their feet, Christ demonstrated His humility and showed love to his disciples till the end. He considered himself to be nothing, and he humbled himself further. When Jesus died on the cross, he did it in utter surrender, humiliation, and suffering.
This was done in order for us to be saved and forgiven. He was able to express in actuality the depth, length, width, and height of God’s unconditional love in a tangible way. No one deserves this kind of unconditional love, yet it was theirs and it is ours.
And the disciples were there to witness it firsthand. They had a full and complete experience. They were there to witness it. They put their hands on it. They took a whiff of it. They were dripping wet in it. Take it in stride.
They are blessed, according to Jesus.
And how fortunate we are! We are also blessed because we can have an encounter with Him, even if it is not in the flesh but rather in the Spirit.
We are blessed because, via the Spirit He sends to live within us, we may hear Him and see Him for who He truly is. We can have a personal encounter with Him and His power.
We can have it! Just by reading His Word, we can find peace. All it takes is some quiet time in prayer. We have the ability to experience so. We are blessed because when we seek Him with all of our hearts, we will find Him.
We are blessed because we can call out Abba as His Spirit confirms in our spirits that we are His and have become His heirs even as we suffer in Him.
We are fortunate in that we have been given the ability to comprehend the mysteries of His heart and of His Kingdom.
We are blessed because He is with us all of the time, in every condition, and till the end of the world!
Thank you very much, Jesus! We pray that you will lead us to the depths of your Word and into the embrace of Your Arms. Amen!
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