Luke 10  Seventy of Jesus' disciples are sent out to tell the towns they visit, "...that the kingdom of God has come near.."   Some would willingly accept them, others would not.  Jesus says, "the one who listens to you, listens to Me, and the one who rejects you, rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me." ( v16)

This divine connection reflects back to Luke 9:48.  Receiving a child in His Name, Jesus said, is receiving Him and His Father; Listening to the disciples is listening to Jesus.  Rejecting the disciple is rejecting Jesus and His Father.  Jesus also adds to this in Luke 10:22, "All things have been handed to Me by My Father , and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." 

The Father revealed great truths to those who were "babes" and not to the "wise and intelligent"... and this pleased Him and brought praise and rejoicing  from Jesus to His Father.   Jesus tells His disciples, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see... and to hear the things which you hear..."  It is the Father who withheld these things from "prophets and kings" and revealed them to the "least of these".

Why? Salvation is not exclusive to prophets and kings.. to the wise and intelligent... Salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone!  It is given to those who receive a child in His Name;  who listen to the Word spoken from a humble servant of the Lord; who accept the Son and the Father fully.

Father in heaven, Your ways are not our ways and Your thoughts are not our thoughts.  Before the foundations of this world, You purposed to bring salvation through Your Son, Jesus.  In humility and simplicity, You showed grace and mercy to us.  How wonderful and amazingly beautiful is this gospel!  We praise You, Lord!  We love You and adore You!  Thank You for letting us see You and to hear these truths with ears that hear!  Amen.