To have eyes that see is a blessing. We are able to appreciate all of God’s creation, which we see through our eyes. We pity those who are blind and cannot see anything. They stumble and fall because all that they have is darkness. But there are more important things which our eyes see now that make us especially blessed. Jesus said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 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” (Luke 10:23-24). Jesus said these words to his disciples since they were witnessing the fulfilment of prophesy. The prophets and kings of old were only able to see Jesus through dreams and visions, but the disciples were there with him.
Indeed, the disciples were the envy of the prophets and kings. These prophets and kings were only able to talk and write about Jesus but they did not see him physically. Seven hundred years before Jesus’ birth, the prophet Isaiah said, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). Even King David talked about him in his Psalms. The disciples did not only have the opportunity to see him physically, but to witness the demonstration of his power, grace and mercies as he performed signs, wonders and miracles before their eyes. While the disciples rejoiced at having seen the miracles performed and demons submitting to them in the name of Jesus, Jesus cautioned them saying, “Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).
To us today, we are as blessed as the disciples of Jesus were. Our situation was described by the apostle Peter beautifully when he said, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9). No one among us has seen Jesus personally but we are blessed with spiritual eyes and faith that can see him through his Words. These eyes are what the apostle Paul called “the eyes of our understanding.” We are blessed more than the prophets and kings because we now have the written account of Jesus’ life and ministries that are corroborated and validated by the writings of the prophets and kings themselves.
To contrast the eyes of the Pharisees, Sadducees and teachers of the Law with that of the disciples, Jesus said, “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving’” (Matt. 13:13-14). There are indeed those who have physical eyes but cannot see the wonders of the work of God. They also have ears but do not have understanding. These are the ones that grope in the dark, and they stumble and fall. They do not have the light of life, Jesus himself. Their hearts are hardened and refuse to see the truth in Jesus.
There are those who claim to have eyes but do not see and appreciate what the Lord has been doing in their lives. They are ungrateful. For this reason, Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind” (John 8:39). Only Jesus can give light to our eyes and those who refuse to believe in him will live in darkness. Therefore, let us desire to have Jesus in our lives. Yes, we have not seen him personally but we believe in him. We have received his word and this opened our spiritual eyes. We are like the man that was born blind. When Jesus gave him his sight, he was so blessed that he uttered, “I was blind but now I see.”
May the Lord continually open the eyes of our understanding so that we appreciate and become grateful for everything that the Lord has been doing in our lives. We are indeed blessed to live at such a time as this. We can look back and see Jesus through the eyes of faith, just like Abraham, and we can rejoice (John 8:56). He is faithful and his love endures forever. Indeed, the prophets and kings of old longed to see what we are seeing today but did not see it. We are blessed. Hallelujah!
