The Greatness of Jesus
Reading Luke 9:37-45 (KJV)
And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him. And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, “Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.” And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him. And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not. And Jesus answering said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.” And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father. And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples, “Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.” But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
Immediately after coming down from the Mount of the Transfiguration, Jesus and his disciples find themselves in a scene verging on chaotic. A boy is possessed by a demon, and the disciples cannot free him. Nobody know what to do or how to respond. The Lord reprimands the demon, and frees the boy from his suffering.
We could meditate on many aspects of this passage, but I invite you to meditate on one that I find very significant: the contrast between the reaction of the people and the words of Jesus. While the crowd is amazed by the miracle they have just seen, while they view the greatness of God in such a tangible way, their eyes and hearts are still unable to see the true greatness.
That greatness is in the announcement of Jesus.
He asks them to let these words penetrate their ears.
The Son of Man came to show His greatness in an unimaginable way. Suffering for us, giving Himself up for us, becoming a sacrifice, all because of His immense love for us.
That is the most glorious example of the greatness of God.
MEDITATE: Do we meditate on the greatness of the Gospel every day? Or do we have a small vision of the greatness of God, focusing more on less important issues?
