17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
The religious leaders had been publically disgraced by their attitude towards healing on the Sabbath yet gladness and joy prevailed among the people over all the gloriously splendid things Jesus was doing. Jesus is all about doing the gloriously splendid things for those with eyes to see! We find this all throughout God’s Word. David tells us:
3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. Psalms 8:3-5 (NIV)
“David was amazed that God should exalt finite man to such a place of honor.” Bible Knowledge Commentary
Peter, James and John were certainly privy to gloriously splendid things on the Mount of Transfiguration. We find in Luke:
29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, 31 appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. Luke 9:29-31 (NIV)
Paul gives us this glorious truth in 1 Corinthians:
7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" -- 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. 1 Cor 2:7-10 (NIV)
Paul also tells us in 2 Corinthians:
7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! 2 Cor 3:7-11 (NIV)
I love what the Bible Knowledge Commentary states about the above verses:
“The ministry of the New, by means of the Spirit, leads men to faith in Christ and the imputation of His righteousness (Rom. 3:21-22; 4:24). Like a candle before the sun the Old Covenant paled and passed away (Gal. 3:19-25) before the grandeur of the New, which is eternal (Heb. 13:20). If the Old is glorious, how much more glorious is the New!”
It is so interesting to me how the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, like many people of our day and time, will go to the extreme not to believe no matter how much truth is presented to them. The healing of the man born blind in the gospel of John certainly enforces this point:
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. "He put mud on my eyes," the man replied, "and I washed, and now I see." 16 Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath." John 9:13-16 (NIV)
18 The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents. 19 "Is this your son?" they asked. "Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?" 20 "We know he is our son," the parents answered, "and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself." 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. John 9:18-22 (NIV)
24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. "Give glory to God,” they said. "We know this man is a sinner." 25 He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" 26 Then they asked him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" 27 He answered, "I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?" 28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, "You are this fellow's disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from." 30 The man answered, "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." 34 To this they replied, "You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!" And they threw him out. John 9:24-34 (NIV)
As Jesus plainly tells the Jews gathered around Him in John:
24 The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one." John 10:24-30 (NIV)