Divine Revelation
"And Jesus answered and said unto him, blessed are thou Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven (Mt.16:17)."
In a verse preceding the above, Jesus asked His disciples, “… whom say ye that I am (Mt. 16:15)?” Simon Peter answered and said “… Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God (Mt. 16:17).” Jesus then explained that this knowledge was given to Peter (only) through divine revelation. It is revelation in the knowledge of Him that is absolutely phenomenal, and is an exchange on an exceptionally personal level. Is it any wonder that the God of the universal could connect with his people on such a deeply personal level? Remember, Jesus said:
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day (Jn. 6:44)."
"All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father, neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him (Mt. 11:27)"
So the Father draws us to His son and the Son reveals the Father to His elect.
How wonderful and special. That's why it is so exceptionally personal.
A gift of revelation about the everlasting God! And remember, John the
Baptist said "... A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven
(Jn. 3:27)." So to understand anything of God, you must be originally
allowed that privilege! Also wonderful (and glorious) is that God decreed
the knowledge of Himself
for the church before the world began.
Please note the following verse:
“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God
ordained before the world unto our glory (I Cor. 2:7):”
You see, this was a mystery, a hidden treasure that God prepared for His saints:
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered
into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love
him. But God hath revealed them unto
us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of
God (I Cor. 2:10).”
Paul spoke about ministering this wonderful knowledge as follows:
“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I
should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make
all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of
the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ (Eph.
3:8-9):”
“… Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now
is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches
of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the
hope of glory (Col. 1:26-27):”
As the Apostle explained and the aforementioned verses show, these riches cannot be searched out by human
reasoning. It is no wonder Jesus
said that he would build His church on revelation and “the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it (Mt. 16:18).” Also observe in the above
verse the portion where Paul speaks of the “fellowship of the
mystery”? How wonderfully delightful!
Once you have been granted the knowledge of God, there is simply nothing
else even remotely comparable. Please recall
that when Jesus
asked the disciples whether they also would go away, Peter said, “… to whom
shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life (Mt. 6:68).”
What’s also marvelous is that God intimately knows everyone that has been
granted this wonderful knowledge.
“Known unto God are all his works, from the beginning of the world (Acts 15:18).”
We see that Paul wished this knowledge for the saints.
Please note how he spoke regarding such desire:
“That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all
riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the
mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:2-3).”
Through divine revelation we experience another ultimate, that is, divine
fellowship! The Apostle John states:
“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have
fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his
Son Jesus Christ (I Jn. 1:3).”