Luke 10:23-27: a reflection

23Turning to the disciples, he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see, 24for I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.” 25Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” 27He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

Turning privately to his disciples, Jesus tells them how blessed they are: Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For 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. The disciples were living in a moment that the great figures of the past had longed for but never reached: the coming of the Messiah, the dawning of God's kingdom, the presence of Christ himself. They were seeing what generations before had only hoped for.

Notice what Jesus says the disciples were privileged to see and hear: what prophets and kings had longed for. The saints of old had looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, straining to see what they could only glimpse from afar; and now the disciples were living in its fulfillment, seeing Christ with their own eyes, hearing his words with their own ears. It was an immense privilege, one the greatest of earlier generations had desired but not been given.

That privilege is, in a sense, ours as well. We live on this side of Christ's coming, his death, his resurrection; we have the full gospel, the Scriptures, the knowledge of God in Christ that the saints of old longed to see. It is easy to take this for granted, to grow familiar with the gospel and hold it lightly. But consider what we have been given: the very thing prophets and kings desired to see. Do not take for granted the immense privilege of knowing Christ and the gospel. Treasure what you have been given, the knowledge of God in Christ that earlier generations longed for; do not hold lightly what they would have given anything to see. Blessed are the eyes that see what we see; treasure the privilege, and give thanks for it.

Lord Jesus, you told your disciples how blessed they were, for many prophets and kings had longed to see what they saw and hear what they heard, but had not; they were living in the fulfillment the saints of old had only hoped for. Help me see that this privilege is, in a sense, mine as well. I live on this side of your coming, your death, your resurrection; I have the full gospel, the Scriptures, the knowledge of God in Christ that the saints of old longed to see. It is easy for me to take this for granted, to grow familiar with the gospel and hold it lightly. But help me consider what I have been given: the very thing prophets and kings desired to see. Keep me from taking for granted the immense privilege of knowing you and the gospel. Help me treasure what I have been given, and not hold lightly what earlier generations would have given anything to see. Blessed are the eyes that see what I see; help me treasure the privilege, and give you thanks for it.