I Thank Thee, O Father, Lord Of Heaven And Earth, Because Thou Hast Hid These Things From The Wise And Prudent, And Hast Revealed Them Unto Babes- Part 1848

At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight. All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him." (Matthew 11:27-28)

"Ye CALL ME MASTER AND LORD: and ye SAY WELL; FOR I AM. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I AM (He). VERILY, VERILY, I say unto you, He that receives whomsoever I SEND RECEIVES ME; and HE THAT RECEIVES ME RECEIVES HIM THAT SENT ME." (John 13:13)

This is why Jesus could say, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:29-30)

 Because ALL AUTHORITY in both heaven and earth belonged to Him -- JESUS -- for He shall save His people from their sins. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28:18) In this current dispensation of grace, and as the angel of the Lord proclaimed, JESUS is His Name. (Matthew 28:18; Matthew 1:18-23) Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us! He is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) God, our Saviour, the Word made flesh dwelt among us. (John 1:1-18; Titus 3:4-7) 

And, as John the baptizer pointed out, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"

"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)

Note that the Name of JESUS was not assigned to the "holy thing" by Mary or Joseph. (Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:18-23) Rather, the angel of the Lord declared His name to Joseph. Thus, as we now know, there is no other name whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) There is also no other name above the Name of JESUS. (Philippians 2:9) 

And His Name, as Jesus said when He thanked Thee, O Father, (His humanity speaking). who He Himself identifies as Lord of heaven and earth, has been hidden from the wise and prudent. 

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins." Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matthew 1:21-23)

The good news is that this same JESUS knows His people by name. He has called and ordained us into His body of Christ church. He calls us to a higher purpose, to be that city on a hill wherein He is the beacon of light in a very dark world. He has called us to be His chosen people. A royal generation. In fact, throughout history, there has always been a Light wherein the world is lit -- beyond the obvious sun and moon and stars that shine from the sky. 

In fact, from scripture we understand that our Lord God (who willingly became our Saviour) was continually showing His beloved creation -- you and I -- that He is the Light of this world. That He is the Bread of life. That He is the living water wherein we will never thirst again, if we would only come to Him -- the Lord Jesus -- and welcome Him as both Lord and Christ in our hearts. (Acts 2:36)

Yes, after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7) The greatest love story ever told, that the same God who made the heavens and the earth in the very beginning would also love us enough to shed His precious holy blood on a cross, so that you and I might have salvation. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. One God and Father of all, who is with you all and in you all. (Ephesians 4:5-6)

Or, as John explains, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the Light of men. And the Light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." (John 1:1-4)

This is not a new phenomenon, for God always was the Light of this world. While He made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night, and the stars also, it wasn't to divert or sidetrack us from knowing Him in our day to day. Throughout history, He has continually shown those who seek Him that He is the only Way to abundant life. (Genesis 1:14-16)

In Exodus, "the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night ..." (Exodus 13:21)

From Ezra, "And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in His holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage." (Ezra 9:8)

And in Nehemiah, ""Moreover Thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go." (Nehemiah 9:12)

And there are those who Job describes as rejecting the Light of this world. "They are of those that rebel against the Light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof." (Job 24:13)

The psalmist David properly declared, "The Lord is my Light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? " (Psalm 27:1) And so should we. "... for Thy Light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." (Isaiah 60:1)

And, in the new testament, Jesus did not hide His glory from those who seek Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. (Deuteronomy 5:4; Mark 12:29-31)

This is why Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of life." (Joh 8:12)

Moreover, in Revelation, John elaborates on His promise to His people, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." And He that sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said unto me, "Write: for these words are true and faithful." And He said unto me, I"t is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son." (Revelation 21:1-10, 22-23)

Yes, in this current dispensation of grace (the current time in which we live) JESUS is the Light of this world, and He wants to be the Light that shines from your heart. It is for this reason that today, He is reaching out to you, desiring to speak face to face with you, as He did Moses in the tabernacle, and Abraham in the doorway of the tent. Why? Because this is the purpose that we were all intended to achieve, that in Christ Jesus, we have His hope and joy and peace in our heart. 

And that, as a consequence, our cups running over, because of His love and mercy for you and I -- His beloved. Say yes to the Lord Jesus today, and come in to the fold, wherein the Shepherd stands waiting for your heart to respond to His everlasting love. In fact, this is the day of salvation. This is the day wherein the Lord God Almighty wants to share His plan for your life with you, leading and guiding you into His wisdom and truth. The Comforter who clearly stated (while walking this earth), "I will never leave you nor forsake you!" 

Indeed, Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" which is why no man can come to the Father but by Him. (John 14:6-12) 

Therefore, as Jesus pointed out while on earth, "let your Light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

And someday very soon, our Lord God and Saviour is returning to this earth to gather unto Himself His people. We need to be prepared for that day when He comes with clouds, "and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," saith the Lord, "which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:7-8)

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:13-14)

Stand in the offering plate.