Teachers (especially math teachers) cherish the moments when the “light bulb comes on” and a student understands what has been taught. Sometimes a concept can be taught weeks without being understood. Without understanding, a student may have been going through the proper steps, perhaps even getting an occasional problem correct, when, for some unknown reason, the “light bulb comes on” and he exclaims, “Oh… now I get it!”
Understanding is much more critical before the Master Teacher. Why doesn’t everyone see that without Jesus there is no hope? How can the things of this world rival eternity? Until certain “revelations” take place, we are captive to a spiritual enemy. “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
God holds revelation in His hands. Jesus called many blind that thought they could see. He quoted the prophets who predicted a lack of understanding. “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; ever seeing but never perceiving.” It almost seemed that the advantaged ones were the poor, the uneducated, and the despised.
When the revelation of sin comes, a man can feel undone. “What a wretched man I am!” Paul wrote. “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” Peter cried. Without the knowledge of sin, a person might live a carefree life. People around might think he’s the happiest guy in the world, but such is not reality. The revelation of sin brings despair, but where there is truth there is hope. At such points one might search for a Savior. “Who will rescue me from this body of death?” There is One who can. There is One who paid the price, but only sinners know they need Him.
When Peter answered the question Jesus asked about what people thought about Him, he answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus knew his friend had been given a revelation. “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.”
In our day of enlightenment, we think we figure things out on our own, but don’t we need revelation? If I truly saw Jesus as the King who created me and then died for me, would I live for myself? If I truly fathomed the price paid for my sin, would I fail to repent? If I truly comprehended the love of the Father, would I put anything before Him? If I fully understood the mercy I have received, would I ever withhold mercy from another? Jesus praised His Father for revealing the hidden things to the ones the world overlooked. May He show such kindness to us.
“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.” Matthew 11:25-26
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 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, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:17-19
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19