“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 was your good pleasure.’ ”
Now this just sounds like typical religious talk. But we can break it down. It pleases God when someone acts in the power of God to do what he or she is supposed to do, since it’s possible to act in the power of God. It doesn’t take a peculiar intellect or special training, just a humility and God-likeness that connects people to God. It’s the connection that counts, not the intellect. The knowledge of God is not something we can figure out on our own because we are really smart. God is so removed from us that the only way He can ultimately be known is if he makes himself known. He has done that primarily in His Word, and in the person of Jesus Christ.
Then Jesus says to his disciples, “You’re the fortunate ones since you get to walk around with me. You’re getting to see things that billions of people wish they could have seen.” But we are still blessed because we have the written record of it. It’s a privilege to know the truth.
“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.” See, just as we’ve seen before (on the Mt. of Transfiguration in Lk. 9.28), it is clear that some get to see and some don’t; some get to hear and some don’t. We are not all the same, and God doesn’t treat us all the same. We each have our place and our role.
God reveals himself to everyone, but in different ways. Some get to see the Lord, some get to have someone talk to them, some get to have books to read, etc. Anyone can respond—it doesn’t take a particular intellect, or finances, or spiritual acumen. And it also seems like God’s power is spread in a wide net, so that many have it and can use it, either to God’s glory or to his detriment, but it’s all part of the revelation strategy of God making himself known and available. Everyone gets a fair chance, though on different levels, and people are accountable based on what they do with the information/revelation they’ve been given. It’s only fair, and always fair.
