SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 11
JESUS AND JOHN THE BAPTIST (vs. 1-19)
When John was in prison, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus: “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (v. 2). Jesus replied “Go back and report John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the goods news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” (vs. 4-6).
ACCORDING TO JESUS, WHO IS JOHN THE BAPTIST?
- He is not a man dressed in fine clothes. (v. 8)
- He is more than a prophet. (v. 9)
- He is my messenger who prepares my way. (v. 10)
- No one born among the women is greater than John the Baptist. (v. 11)
- He is the Elijah who had come to confront sins and point people to God. (v. 14)
- Jesus condemned the attitude of
Jesus condemned the attitude of this generation and pointed out their inconsistencies. John neither eat or dink and they say he has a demon. Jesus came to eat and drink and they say he is a glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collector and sinners. No matter what he said or did, they took the opposite view. They were skeptical because Jesus challenged their comfort able and self-centered life. Often times, we also justify our inconsistincies because listening and obeying God require us to change our lives.
WOE ON UNREPENTANT CITIES:
- Karazin
- Bethsaida
- Capernaum
Karazin and Bethsaida saw the miracles that were performed but they never repented. If the people of Tyre and Sidon had seen the miracles, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. For Capernaum, if the miracles were performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. Therefore, during judgment day, these cities will experience the unbearable punishment.
REST FOR THE WEARY (vs. 25-30)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (vs. 28-30)
THOUGHTS:
John the Baptist was being imprisoned by King Herod because he publicly rebuked him for marrying his sister-in-law. While in prison, he had doubts if Jesus was really the Messiah because John’s purpose was to prepare people to the coming Messiah and if Jesus was that Messiah, why was he being imprisoned when he could have been preaching to the crowds and preparing their hears. Jesus replied to his doubts by mentioning the miracles he performed: healing the blind, the lame, the deaf, curing the lepers, raising the death and preaching to the poor. These evidences had proven that he is Christ, the Messiah. Sometimes when you are in doubt, read the Scripture.
Tyre, Sidon and Sodom were destroyed by fire for its evil. But Jesus mentioned about the people of Karazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum who had seen Jesus but refused to repent their sins and believe in Him. So they would suffer greater judgment. Today, nations and cities have no excuse on judgment if they do not repent and believe in Christ.
Jesus mentioned two kinds of people in his prayer: (1)-The wise and the learned (2)-The childlike. The wise and the learned are arrogant so they do not know the hidden things of God. The childlike are humble so that they can received God’s Word. What kind of person do you belong to?
A yoke is a heavy wooden harness that fits over the shoulder of an ox or oxen. It is attached to a piece of equipment the oxen are to pull. A person may be carrying heavy burdens of sin, problems, opposition, or persecution. Jesus frees people from all these burdens. He promises rest of love, healing and peace if we have a good relationship with Him;.