Matthew chapter 11
New Testament
Matthew chapter 11
Scripture:
Today I will summarize chapter 11 where Jesus talked about John the Baptist and where Jesus implored people to come to him for salvation. John the Baptist was imprisoned by king Herod while he was in prison. John started to doubt everything that he had seen and heard. He started to doubt the things the Holy Spirit told him about Jesus. John set his disciples to Jesus with a question. They said are you the expected one the Messiah the Christ whom we have been waiting for or shall we look for another? Jesus told them to tell John, what you are hearing and seeing. The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hears, dead people are resurrected and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. “Happy are those who have no doubts about me!” Jesus again spoke to the crowds after this encounter. He said what did you go out into the wilderness to see when you saw John there? A reed is shaken by the wind; a man dressed in fancy clothing. John was indeed a prophet but he was much more than a prophet. He was the one prophesied about in scripture where it read behold, I send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you. I tell you mystery the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than him. I will tell you something else Elijah was supposed to come before the Messiah was revealed. I proclaim to you now that John the Baptist is Elijah whose, coming was predicted. God’s wisdom is shown to be true by its results. Jesus then turned his attention to some of the cities in the area where he did most of his miracles but they did not turn from their sins. So, he reproached those towns. He said how terrible it will be for you Chorazin and Bethsaida! woe to you Capernaum. If the miracles that I did were done In Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom. They would have repented quickly but not you because of this you will descend to hell. On judgment day God will show more mercy to the people of Sodom. Jesus said I praise you Father Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve hidden the truth from the wise and intelligent and you have revealed it to the unlearned. Then Jesus told the people all things have been handed over to me by my father in heaven. No one knows the son except the father and no one knows the father except the son and those to whom the son chooses to reveal him. Come to me all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit and you will find rest. My yoke is easy and my burden is light. Turn to me and live.
Observation:
The thing I think the lord wants us to understand after reading this chapter is that even great prophets like John the Baptist doubted that Jesus is the Christ and the Messiah. After John sent his disciples to Jesus directly. Jesus provided scriptures coupled with a reminder of what they saw like the blind seeing, the lame walking, and the deaf hearing. The dead raise to life and the good news is preached to the poor. As proof that he is the Messiah. God wants us to see that he uses scripture and the reminder of what we see as proof to us today as well for the same kind of doubts. God wants us to see that Jesus directly said that John the Baptist was the Elijah who was to come and to whom the prophets wrote about. God wants us to see that Jesus said plainly and clearly that no one can know the father in heaven unless Jesus chooses to reveal the father to him or her.
Did Jesus choose you to allow you to know the father perhaps today is the day that will happen? Let us repent for our sins and turn to the lord for Salvation. Jesus humbled himself and died on the cross for you and me. The father raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus conquered hell and death. God said if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is lord and if you believe in your heart that the father raised Jesus from the dead you will be saved. Come let us do that right now.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I want to be a person who stands firm and trusts you wholeheartedly, I want to be unshakeable and resilient, but that can only happen by depending on you and trusting you. Develop that deeper trust in me, God, I desperately need it and want to trust you more. God, I don’t know how to get there. I feel like I trust you. But I keep walking around with my limited strength, worry, and doubt. I need your help to overcome my lack of sight. I have a hard time letting go and letting you take control. I need help to release my control to you. Help me grow in my trust. Father help me to get my eyes off the mountains before me and put my eyes on you. Holy Spirit teach me to trust and help me to have confidence in your guidance and direction. Turn my life into a powerful demonstration of what trust in God looks like. I make this prayer in the name of Jesus Amen.
