25At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
In this section (11:20-30), Jesus contrasted the three Galilean cities (11:20-24) amid their negative volition with those who turn to Him by faith (11:25-30).
11:25
At that time Jesus answered and said,
Jesus responded to the negative volition expressed in the previous section by talking about those with positive volition.
“I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
The term “Father” occurs five times in this passage (11:25-30). Jesus looked to the Father’s sovereignty to deal with negative volition. Nothing will discourage God’s purpose. From the Father emanates all sovereign arrangements, for He rules heaven and earth.
that You have hidden these things
The “hidden things” here are miracles of Jesus in the earlier part of the chapter dealing with His authenticity of Messiahship.
from the wise and prudent
Jesus was not high-handed about those with negative volition here, but simply recognizing their negativity towards Him and honoring those with positive volition. The three cities had wonderful exposure to Jesus but they intentionally rejected Him. Although they refused full light, God would offer that light to others by His superseding purpose. The “wise and prudent” are self-sufficient people who did not need Jesus or His message.
and have revealed them to babes.
Babies are unassuming. They cannot make judgments on things they do not understand. These are the kinds of people to whom the Father revealed Himself—that is, people with positive volition.
11:26
Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
Jesus found solace in God’s sovereign purpose.
11:27
All things have been delivered to Me by My Father,
The Father delivered “all things” necessary to do ministry through Jesus. Even though opposition was escalating, the Father’s plan was to give Him the victory through whatever power was necessary to get the job done.
and no one knows the Son except the Father.
The Father and the Son know each other in the relationship of the Trinity. No one can make a high claim like this except Jesus as the Son of God.
Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son,
The Father is inscrutable to everyone except the Son. The Son is the revealer of the Trinity. Both the Father and Son possessed the one essence of infinity, omniscience, omnipotence, and everywhere presence. Infinity is too massive for finite man to comprehend. Even in eternity man will still be finite and will ever learn about the wonders of who God is.
and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
The Son chooses to reveal Himself to those with positive volition (as seen in context). Jesus reveals Himself to those who believe in His message.
PRINCIPLE:
Positive volition in God’s sovereign plan pleases God.
APPLICATION:
The Son reveals Himself to those with positive volition towards God’s plan. It matters little whether we are intellectual or common, we can come to the truth of Jesus because He will enable us to do so.
But the natural man [pure mind, emotion, and will but no capacity to relate to God] does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.1 Co 2:14-16
