Jesus Asked, "Why Do Ye Not Understand My Word? Because Ye Cannot Hear My Word!"- Part 1943

Jesus said, "Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness ..." (Luke 11:35)

Luke 11 is complete with multiple gospel treasures wherein we who believe can learn and be edified. Among the treasures are lessons, from which we can find good counsel for our own day to day. For example, Jesus taught the disciples how to pray. This is one of the two places in scripture where the model prayer is written. The prayer? "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name." (Luke 11:1-4)

As we move on, Jesus shares the importance of Him being our friend that never leaves us, nor forsakes us. In fact, as Lord, Jesus encourages us to "ask, and it will be given; seek and we shall find; and knock and it shall be opened unto us." (Luke 11:5-13) Later, we witness Jesus casting aside a devil which in turn sets the person who was in bondage and possessed now free. Then, Jesus speaks of a divided house, and that if He, "with the finger of God casts out devils, no doubt, the Kingdom of God is upon you." (Luke 11:20) s Jesus points out at another time, the Kingdom of God is nigh!

Continuing, Jesus references the result of a lit candle in a once dark room to prove His point. Similar to the darkness in the world, and more personally, in our hearts, the long-term effect of Jesus is that the world would no longer be dark because Jesus is the true Light of the world. As we know from His Word, Jesus is also identified as the Bread of Life; the King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8; John 6:35) God manifest in the flesh.

The Son of man (as He is described during the time He walked this earth) is now the Lord of glory! The first Adam, earthy. The second Adam, the Lord from heaven. Yes, indeed, He has become the Great Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep, while we were yet still His enemies. And yes, He is indeed both Lord and Christ! (Acts 2:36; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 1:8)

Moreover, those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength,  and seek Him as the Giver of wisdom and knowledge will inevitably become closer to the Lord in their faith journey.  We see this growth pattern in new believers all the time. This is not to suggest that we are perfect, because in and of ourselves, we are not. Nevertheless, when we ask our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ to lead and guide us in our day to day, our lives will change.

This is the part of Luke 11 that I intend to focus on. And that also, in walking by faith in Jesus, and trusting Him for our all in all, we begin to understand that our faith to those around us is akin to the lights of a city on a hill -- whereby even observers from a faraway distance can know with solid assurance that His light -- He being the Way, the Truth, and the Life -- resides within us. Why? Because He fills us with His joy and mercy and peace. His love forever bridging the gap that in the past prevented us from experiencing His plan of salvation.

The veil that had hindered us from having a relationship with the Lord God has now been torn, from heaven to earth, ushering in for us a brand new dispensation of grace. No longer are we under the ordinances and laws of the old covenant, because the Lord hath made all things new when the dayspring from on high visited His people. As John wrote, "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)

Further, as we press into the mark of our high calling, our Lord God and Saviour raises us from servant status to that of a close friend -- because He can trust us in the relationship to do what is right, and true, and just. Herein, as we move closer to fulfilling His purposes, we begin to more fully to understand the mysteries that are hidden in the Word. Jesus as God manifest in the flesh is just one example of a mystery wherein the very words -- "God manifest in the flesh" -- to the unlearned have been considered incoherent and unintelligible  Or, as Jesus asks, "Why do ye not understand My Word?" But I digress.

Going back to Luke 11, we see the Lord Jesus speaking to the multitudes. He was warning those who believed in Him by faith to know that an evil generation would seek a sign. And that, an evil generation would always want to know the times and seasons in which we live. For this reason, Jesus did not want believers to be ignorant of the things which were to come. This was certainly the case here. For clarity, Jesus is saying that there will be no other sign given to this generation -- other than the Son of man -- which we now know has been given. The perfect sacrifice made so that we might find abundant life in Him!

Why is this important? Because Jesus is more than sufficient for salvation. His grace and mercy and love displayed for one and all to witness on the cross. His love call inviting us -- the body of Christ believers -- to the most elaborate wedding feast ever wherein He is asking, even to this day, for each and every one of us to "Come!" To taste and see that the Lord is so good!

In personally delivering His Word to us, and fulfilling His plan of salvation so that you and I can be forever saved in His goodness and grace, He has provided a means for people to reconnect with our Lord God creator. As Jesus told the thick crowds that particular day, "Behold, a greater than Solomon is here" and, as well, "a greater than Jonas is here." (Luke 11:29, 31-32)

My question is this? Do we get it? Do we understand in our hearts what kind of love -- and how much love -- it must have taken for the Lord God of the heavens to infill a body so that He could bring to His creation life? The greatest of greatest is here standing in front of you, Jesus is saying -- but do we even know? Nevertheless, we are so privileged as His chosen people, a royal generation -- and thus, our heart desire should be to solely remain faithful to Him .... who after His kindness and love God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7)

But as we also see in the scriptures, when Jesus preached the good news gospel of His Kingdom, wherein those who were long-time held captive by the enemy could be set free, once and for all we often witness unfounded accusation and commotion. Of course, this time was not any different. Along came a certain woman of the company lifting up her voice, and said unto Jesus, "Blessed is the womb that bare Thee, and the paps which Thou hast sucked." How does Jesus respond? He tells this certain woman -- "Yea, rather blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it." (Luke 11:27-28; Luke 1:28, 48)

This is not the only time Jesus' good news gospel message has been sidelined. Another reference cites a "certain" as well telling Jesus that His mother desires to be seen of Him. In this latter example, Jesus responds to the 'certain' in the same fashion as above --"My mother and My brethren are these which hear the Word of God and do it." (Luke 8:20-21)

Therefore, as believers in Jesus by faith, we are to "Hear ye Him." At no point in the scriptures are we told to worship Mary as the mother of God. Perhaps, this is why Jesus said that His mother and brethren are those who hear the gospel. Those believers who obey His Word in everything they do.

But to be clear, we need to know -- Who is Him? The One and Only Lord God who created the world and then gladly and willingly -- after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.  (Titus 3:4-7; I Timothy 3:16) In Him the fullness of the Godhead. Yes, He willingly took our place on the cross so that we might have salvation. And yes, He became the perfect sacrifice; the Great Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep.

His Name is JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23)

Getting back to the original point of this post, there are those in our midst who do not understand Jesus' analogy, and neither the consequence of a lit candle in a dark room. Neither do these understand the words which Jesus spoke unto them ... because as Jesus said, their hearts are hardened from the truth. Consequently, these cannot hear His Word because their hearts are full of anything but a heart felt desire to know their Creator.

Still, all the unbelief in this world cannot extinguish nor negate that the Light of the world has come and delivered unto us the greatest gift ever known to mankind -- JESUS! For those of us who believe in Jesus by faith, we have a blessed assurance, and like the two men walking with Jesus after His resurrection, our hearts burn within from reading His Word.

Jesus went on to say, "no man, when he hath lighted a candle puts it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. The light of the body is the eye: therefore, when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body, therefore, be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light." (Luke 11:34-36)

This same Jesus whom we have all crucified at one point or another in our lives (because we have all fallen short of the glory of God) has given to us Himself -- as the Light of this world and He wants to shine brightly in your heart today. Yet, He would not have us ignorant. Jesus clearly explains that there is a counterfeit continually trying to draw us away from His Truth with contrary teachings that are unfounded in His Word, as did the "certain" among the multitudes. But as Jesus said, "Don't be deceived."

Don't let the cares of this world move you away from the foundation of truth, wherein the Lord God Almighty prepared a body for Himself so that we might know Him and love Him. His Name is JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins. Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us, who after the cross, would reside within us, when we ask Jesus to be Lord and Christ in our lives. (Matthew 1:21-23)

Note also, that the wise men traveled from afar to worship Jesus. The apostles healed in the Name of Jesus. The apostles' water baptized in the precious Name of the Lord Jesus. They preached and taught in the Name of the Lord Jesus, so that the perishing could once and for all be rescued from eternal

But the greatest news, beyond the greatest love story ever given to mankind, is that as we in our hearts draw closer to our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ, the scales will fall from our eyes so that we will understand His Word, and similarly, become doers of the Word too. So very much to be thankful for this day!

Stand in the offering plate.