Submitting to God’s Vision - January 20, 2013 Sermon

By Pastor Greg

After approaching King Artaxerxes with God’s calling, Nehemiah is sent to Jerusalem to be its governor (Nehemiah 5:14). As governor, a whole caravan of assistants and soldiers would have traveled with him as well. So when Nehemiah arrived, people would have noticed. He did not simply sneak into town. He came as their new leader; their new governor. But Nehemiah did not come to merely govern. He came with a vision and a passion to challenge the people of Jerusalem to finish the work God had commanded over a hundred years ago. So not only did Nehemiah need to overcome certain obstacles back in Susa, but he also needed to overcome the opposition he would face in Judea. And after a tour of the city Nehemiah finds out that the damage is more extensive than he had imagined, and he faces opposition from several influential people as well (Read Nehemiah 2:9-20).

Nehemiah spends three days assessing the condition of Jerusalem, and his conclusion is that the city was a real mess, probably worse than he had imagined. But rather than allow the opposition to distract or deter him from his calling, Nehemiah remains steadfast. He remains optimistic and enthusiastic. Now although there are a number of reasons why Nehemiah remained undeterred, what has me really impressed is the way many within Jerusalem catch the same vision. They are in total agreement with him and seem willing to give themselves to this great work.

Nehemiah could not accomplish this vision on his own. He needed the cooperation of the Jews from the land. He needed the people to have the same passion and the same vision. They would all have to work together in order to accomplish this monumental task. In other words, not only did Nehemiah need to submit to God's vision, God's calling, and God's plan, but so too did the people of Israel. They would need to recognize that this work was of God and directed from God. They would need to submit to God's vision as well.

Perhaps those who worked along side Nehemiah had been waiting for someone to launch a rebuilding program, I don’t know. But it is apparent that many of the people are in total agreement. However, there are others who seem completely dead set against this idea of rebuilding the wall (Nehemiah 2:19). They discourage, slander, sabotage, and threaten not just Nehemiah, but anyone else whose heart has been awakened.

There are two lessons in this section of Nehemiah, one speaks to those who lead and the other speaks to those who follow. Next week we will look at this through the eyes of Nehemiah, but today I want to look at this lesson through the eyes of the people who had been living among the rubble for nearly 100 years.

Let assess this story through the eyes of the people for a moment. An outsider rides into town. He didn’t grow up in Jerusalem. He probably talked differently, acted differently, and even dressed differently. He is presented as the new leader. He seems quiet and distracted. Something is on his mind, but nobody is quite sure what it might be. A few people from the next town have been saying bad things about this guy. Three days after arriving in town he points out how run down the place was, how he had a vision to fix the problem, and that God had given him an idea on how to solve the problem. What would you say? How would you respond, especially once those opposed to the idea begin slandering your leader, trying to sabotage your work, and even threaten your life? How do you remain steadfast and submitted to God’s vision that was given through someone else?

These are really tough question every church will face from time to time; this submission to or objection of another man's calling and vision. Is there some way a church can determine if her leader is truly working according to God’s will? A few things stand out in this story of Nehemiah.

1. Nehemiah didn’t create the problem. He merely showed the people the problem. They had been living with the problem so long that they had become complacent. But Nehemiah was passionate about solving the problem. He gave them an idea on how to solve the problem. He told them how God had already been working to fix the problem. He came to offer leadership and guidance to solve the problem.
2. Nehemiah was working to restore honor to the city. Was Nehemiah wrong in his assessment of Jerusalem (2:17)? Didn't the neighboring districts look down upon the city as worthless and irrelevant? Nehemiah's vision and calling was to restore Jerusalem's respectability within the land. He wanted the other nations to recognize that Jerusalem, and all Judah, was a place where God was indeed working.
3. Nehemiah’s counsel and guidance would also build up the people. They would feel better about who they were and more confident in what god could accomplish through them. But the other group did not want to see things improve. They liked keeping the city weak and in disrepair. A strong and united Jerusalem made them nervous. They knew that great things could happen in Jerusalem if the people began to feel good about themselves and good about their work.
4. Nehemiah was not the first to call the people out of their slumber. Consider what the Prophet Haggai had to do as the people neglected rebuilding the Temple (Haggai 1:8). Zerubbabel and his people needed to be awakened to do the work of the Lord then. So Nehemiah was simply addressing the same malaise that plagued the people for almost 100 years.
5. Nehemiah was not calling the people to do something contrary to the Lord's will. He was calling them to fulfill what God had already commanded. Speaking through Cyrus, the King of Persia, God had commanded the people to return and rebuild. He even provided what was necessary for this to happen (Ezra 1:1-4). Yet complacency and indifference plagued the Jews. They didn't seem to care about fulfilling the Lord's directives. So like Haggai, Nehemiah reminded them of the Lord's command. And Nehemiah got involved. He worked alongside the people in order to fulfill the Lord's command.

Admittedly, it is difficult to discern if God is truly directing another person. We simply cannot know what God has said and how God is directing them. They come with this bold idea about how some changes will make things better. They come with a passion about reaching a certain group of people or raising money for a certain ministry. How can we be sure they are indeed working according to the will of God? How can we know if this is God’s vision or simply a crazy idea? I think we can discern this if we listen and watch and pray. As we observe them there are a few signs that indicate whether their calling and God’s vision is true. ¹ For whose glory are they working? Who benefits from their ministry? ² What present problems will their ministry solve? Is the work they are proposing something that has needed to be done for many years, but never started? ³ Is there a hidden agenda behind those opposed to this ministry or these changes? Why exactly are they opposed? And better still, what tactics are they using. Any person or group that threatens or stoops to slander, lying, and sabotage should lose credibility in your eyes. ⁴ Has someone else tried the same ministry or shared the same vision? If the same call to ministry is being repeated over and over again within a church, it’s probably God trying to get your attention. ⁵ Does this person’s vision or passion for ministry fall in line with what God has already commanded? In other words, do we find the same command within scripture? Anyone who comes along and says that God instructed them to convince the church that certain sins are now okay, is certainly not submitted to God. God will not instruct His church to work contrary to His Word. But if someone comes along and says, for example, “We’ve forgotten the Great Commission. We need to be making disciples”, that individual just might be the one God has sent to call us back to task.

I’m impressed with Nehemiah and how he surrendered and summited to God. But I am equally impressed with the people of Jerusalem. They recognized the one God sent to call them back to task. They obeyed God through the passionate vision of another man. Perhaps the Church needs to be just as discerning today. Perhaps Christ’s Church should be listening to those God has sent into her midst casting His vision for His great work.

Preparing to Serve - January 13th, 2013 Sermon

By Pastor Greg

In 1966 Don Knotts stared in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken. It’s the story of Luther Heggs; a typesetter for a small town newspaper in Kansas who is given a great opportunity. But unfortunately this great opportunity would take a great amount of courage on Luther’s part. He would have to spend the night in a haunted house (Show Clip).

Like Luther, it seems Nehemiah was just as nervous at the opportunity God had given him. And perhaps you and I feel the same way. Perhaps we are just as hesitant to obey God’s call for fear of what obedience would cost. But there are a few lessons I think we might learn from Nehemiah as we consider serving God.

Last week we talked about the call God placed in Nehemiah’s heart. When God revealed the situation in Jerusalem to Nehemiah he knew something needed to be done, he knew God had placed him in the king’s palace for this very reason, and he knew he was the one God was calling to get involved. But Nehemiah doesn’t walk up to the king that very day and explain his calling. Nehemiah waits four months before an opportunity presents itself to share this calling with the king. It is during this time that God was at work preparing Nehemiah to serve (read Nehemiah 2:1-8).

Nehemiah waited before he spoke with the king. He received the news and the calling in December, but didn’t speak with the king until April. And I think there are lessons you and I can learn from this waiting time; this time between calling and serving. Before Nehemiah began doing what God had placed in his heart, Nehemiah prayed. And I see three things that happened from this time of prayer.

¹ It’s clear Nehemiah realized that in order to accomplish this calling, certain things would need to happen, such as the king agreeing to let Nehemiah take some time off from work. ² If Nehemiah were to accomplish this calling, the people in Jerusalem would have to be willing to cooperate. And Nehemiah would need an official document from the king signifying that he had permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem – which actually meant that the king would have to rescind an earlier decree (see Ezra 4:21). Truthfully, these were monumental obstacles. But it was not just the obstacles that stood before Nehemiah. Based upon his earlier prayer it seems Nehemiah wasn’t overly confident about his ability to accomplish God’s calling in the first place. He prayed, “O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me” (Nehemiah 1:11). So Nehemiah knew that not only did God need to take care of all the other obstacles that stood in the way, but ³ his fears needed to be conquered as well.

Nehemiah realized that he was taking a huge step of faith. And part of the preparation that needed to happen was for Nehemiah’s faith and dependence in God to grow. There would come a time when all his skill, all his experience, and all his knowledge would not be sufficient. He would have to take a bold step in blind obedience. It was either back down from this calling and remain troubled, or speak up in faith; trusting that God had indeed been preparing the king’s heart all along. You can see the lump in Nehemiah’s throat when the king asks what’s wrong (Nehemiah 2:2). You can feel the great leap of faith Nehemiah is about to make through his short prayer just before he answered the king (Nehemiah 2:4).

Like Nehemiah we feel God tugging at our heart. Yet even before we begin serving, we are convinced that it will never work. We are convinced that we will fail. We are sure that God has asked the wrong person. But while we wrestle with this, we become more and more troubled. And as we battle with God, our misery grows.

Too often I think we have our eyes fixed on the obstacles and not God. Too often we focus on our weaknesses and not God’s strength. Too often we rely on our present faith instead of allowing God to strengthen and stretch our faith for the task He has given us. At times it seems a bit strange to me that we would question the wisdom of God; that we doubt His power and grace. When you consider that the creator of the universe, the Great I Am has placed a burden in your heart (that He has called you to a task or a ministry), do you really think He is unaware of all the obstacles that lay before you? Do you really think He is unaware of your limitations and weaknesses? Is He surprised by the shallow depth of your faith?

Maybe this is why many people ignore God’s call in their lives. Looking toward the desired results they see nothing but a mountain of obstacles. Oh, they’ve heard the call. They’ve felt the tug in their heart. But there are just too many things that stand in their way. The sacrifices are too great. They feel unworthy and unequipped for service. And obedience would take a tremendous amount of faith. So they attempt to ignore the call. But no matter how much they struggle to silence the call, it will grow louder and louder each day. Nothing will drown out the voice of God. And in the end the burden becomes so great that even those around them can see that something is wrong. They have found themselves fighting with God instead of surrendering to the call, and allowing God to prepare them for service.

So the Lord has placed a burden in your heart. He is calling you to serve in some particular way. Naturally you are hesitant. It’s normal to feel unworthy and undeserving. God chooses to work through ordinary individuals with weaknesses and failures (see 1 Corinthians 1:26-29). It’s also normal to have your faith tested. This isn’t the boss asking us to take on a new responsibility at work. This is Kingdom work. So what then should we do as we prepare to serve? ¹ We need to spend time in prayer seeking God’s direction. How will He accomplish this task through us? What must we do in order to fulfill His calling in our lives? ² We need to spend time with God seeking His instruction. Are there attitudes and behaviors that need to change in order to make us more fit for service? Do we need teaching or training or experience before we begin to serve? ³ We need to realize that God’s calling is also an opportunity to strengthen our faith.

To ignore God’s call will lead to misery and distress. We will spend a lifetime wondering what might have happened if we had obeyed. Yes, the idea of obeying God’s call is scary. Serving will involve sacrifice. And obedience will test our faith. But after all, we are considering doing the work of the Lord. The calling will break our heart. The serving will test our faith. We would be deceived to think otherwise.

January 14th Bible Study Companion

Mark 6, Matthew 10

Mark 6

      Mark 6:1-6  Jesus and His disciples travel the 20 miles down to Nazareth where He stands in the Synagogue to teach.  Mark omits what was spoken, but he does not miss the slanderous remarks the hometown folks made against Jesus.  In effect they were saying, “Who does He think He is?”  They saw Jesus as just an ordinary man.  He was just a carpenter.  The reference to Jesus being the Son of Mary was a derogatory remark as well.  In the Jewish culture a man was described as the son of his father, never the son of a woman, even if she was a widow.  Their calculated insults against Him indicate there was suspicion and slanderous speculation surrounding His birth.  So for the most part very few people in His home town came to Jesus in faith.  Those that did were healed.  The rest walked away scoffing at the absurdity of His claim.

      Mark 6:7  Jesus granted special authority and special abilities to the twelve.  One of them was Judas, the betrayer.  Think about that for a moment.  The one who would later betray Jesus was empowered by Jesus to do the work of Jesus.  He cast out demons.  He performed many miracles in His name.  He called Jesus Lord, Lord.  Yet in the end he betrayed his Master.  So when we read about godly people turning their backs on Jesus or rejecting Him altogether, we should not be surprised.  We’ve seen it happen here.

      Mark 6:8-13  As the six groups of two traveled from town to town, Jesus told them to find a place where they were welcomed and stay there.  Some Bible scholars speculate that when their ministry began to flourish, the Apostles might have been tempted to focus on popularity more than the message; in speaking words that made the people like them instead of words of truth.  That way the wealthy and affluent would open up their more luxurious homes.  Jesus says stay where you have first been welcomed.  Jesus also points out that if a town did not welcome them (if the people were not interested in what they had to say), they were to disassociate themselves with the people of that town by shaking the dust from their feet.  Devout Jews did this when they would leave a Gentile land.  This shaking of dust would indicate to the Jewish towns that they were acting like pagans, rejecting a message from God.

      Mark 6:14-16  It’s interesting that the people thought of John the Baptist when they heard of Jesus’ miracles.  Did John perform such miracles?  Was he driving out demons, healing the sick, and helping the blind to see?  Actually, John did not do any miracles (see John 10:41).  He was, however, an influential man of God.  He did not hesitate to speak about God to anyone.  So when they hear about what Jesus was saying and doing, they associated it with God as well.  Perhaps they thought, “Wow, we heard John the Baptist say the same thing.  Maybe it’s John back from the dead?”  But when I think about Herod Antipas, I picture him getting nervous; alarmed that it just might be John.  John the Baptist pointed out Herod’s sin.  Herod (by his wife’s prompting) has him executed.  So maybe Herod was haunted by his actions, and hearing that another man of God had come along, perhaps he feared Jesus might point out another or his sins.  Did you ever read The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe?  “Nervous --very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am”.  I think that describes Herod quite well.

      Mark 6:17-29  Herodias and Herod put you in mind of Ahab and Jezebel.  Tradition says that the girl’s name was Salome.  What a gruesome thing to bring to the dinner party!  Who would want to finish their meal after that?

      Mark 6:30-32  We are not sure how much time passed here.  But eventually the Apostles (the Twelve) returned to Capernaum and told Jesus all that had happened.  Exhausted from their busy work, Jesus calls them to a quiet place.  Luke says it was in Bethsaida (see Luke 9:10), a city on the eastern side of the Jordan River, on the northeastern side of the Sea of Galilee.  This is something many people don’t realize.  Doing the work of Jesus is tiring.  Caring and serving and loving and giving to people can really play you out by the end of the day.

      Mark 6:33-36  Jesus and the Apostles traveled by boat.  The crowd of people anticipated where they would land, and traveled there by foot and arrived before Jesus and His Apostles.  This isn’t too amazing when you look at a map of the area.  But rather than getting upset, Jesus feels compassion.  I don’t know what the Apostles were thinking.  I get the impression that they wanted Jesus to tell everyone to leave not just so the people could get something to eat, but so the Apostles could eat and rest as well.

      Mark 6:37-44  Did you notice what Jesus did here?  He provided both for the people and for the Apostles.  Notice that there was plenty of food for the crowd.  Everyone had their fill, and twelve baskets of leftovers were collected.  The crown of possibly 10,000 people (see Mark 6:44) had enough to eat all because of Jesus.  But please also notice that Jesus had commanded the Apostles to feed the crowd; a task obviously impossible.  They would need more than 7 months of wages to buy enough food to feed the crowd (a denarii was equal to a day’s pay).  But their lack of money did not stop Jesus from giving the command.  Now, do you think Jesus was surprised to learn that they were broke?  Did the apparent lack of money catch Him off guard?  Of course not.  He knew the group had limited finances, but that didn’t stop Him from giving the command.  What stands out here is that Jesus supplied everything they needed to fulfill the command.  And by the obedience of these twelve men, there were twelve baskets of leftovers collected.  Twelve baskets.  Twelve men.  Interesting, isn’t it?  I’d say that there is a tremendous lesson here for the Church.  We have been called to feed the crowds, and quite often we have no idea how it is going to happen.  We ourselves are poor.  But through our obedience to Christ’s command, we end up being blessed in the end as well.  I think we need to stop telling Jesus how big the task is and how poor we are, and instead simply start doing the work He has commanded us to do.  I think we will be just as surprised in the end.

      Mark 6:45  There seems to some difficulty here with the town of Bethsaida.  If they had sailed in that direction already, why would they need to sail back again?  It is possible that the city of Bethsaida spread from one side of the Jordon to the next; a Bethsaida Julias (East of the Jordan), and a western part called Bethsaida of Galilee.  During the night they were blown off course and ended up in Gennesaret, located on the Western Shore.  This is a possibility, not a fact.  Maybe they had landed the boat east of Bethsaida because of the huge crowd, and had to head back toward town.

      Mark 6:46-52  John says that Jesus sent the Apostles away because the crowd was ready to make Jesus their King (John 6:15).  He also points out that they were about 3 or 4 miles off shore.  Sometime between 3 and 6 am Jesus noticed them still struggling against the contrary wind.  So He walks out on the water to comfort them and bring them assurance.  But instead they were filled with fear.  Jesus addresses them in a familiar Old Testament description of God.  Literally Jesus says, “Take courage, I Am is here”.  Matthew records Peter’s journey out of the boat (Matthew 14:28).   Although Mark, Matthew, and John include different elements of this story, all three accounts speak of the immediate calm once Jesus climbed into the boat.  Mark says in verse 52 that the Apostle’s problem here was that they had not learned anything from the feeding of the 5,000.  That’s why they were astonished at the sudden calm.  He says their hearts were too hard to comprehend these things.  What was the lesson the Apostles needed to learn?  What had they missed?  Just as God had provided the Manna for Israel while they wandered in the wilderness, Jesus had provided the food for the crowd.  The obvious connection here is that Jesus and God are one, and that just as God had cared for Israel while in the wilderness, so too will Jesus care for His own.  The Apostles didn’t fully grasp who Jesus was, and they didn’t fully grasp the depth of God’s love for them.

      Mark 6:53-56  A long time ago King Solomon asked, “Consider the work of God, for who is able to straighten what He has bent?”  Solomon, the answer is God Himself.  Everything became as it should be while Jesus walked through this bent and twisted world.  But, as Mark points out, it was those who came to Jesus or those who were brought to Jesus that were healed.  Jesus healed when He was asked.  I find that to be significant.  

Matthew 10

      Matthew 10:1-4  Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Philip were from Bethsaida by the Sea of Galilee.  All 5 were probably fishermen.  Nothing is known about Bartholomew, but he is probably known as Nathaniel (John 1:45).  Thomas, the twin (Didymus) was the one we call “Doubting Thomas”.  Matthew continues to call himself the Tax-collector while Mark and Luke simply list him as Matthew.  James, the son of Alphaeus is only mentioned in this listing of the apostles.  Thaddeus may be the same as Judas, son of James (Acts 1:13).  Simon the Zealot was a revolutionary trying to overthrow Roman rule in Palestine.  Judas Iscariot later betrayed Jesus.  “Iscariot” may mean “from Kerioth” a town in Judea.

      Matthew 10:5-6  Jesus sends the Apostles to the people of Israel, not the Gentiles or the Samaritans (people who were part Jewish and part Gentile – a process of intermarrying that began with the Assyrian invasion of 722 BC).  Why was the message to be delivered only to Jews?  Part of the reason is because Israel was supposed to be the nation that God would use to bless the world (see Genesis 12:3 and Isaiah 60:3).  Another possible reason is that Jews were looking for the coming of the Messiah, so they would have been better prepared to receive the testimony and witness of the twelve.  Gentiles or Samaritans might have attributed the miracles to some pagan god.  It would take more than what the Apostles could do at present to convince a Gentile that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

      Matthew 10:7-15  This section is similar to what we read in Mark 6:7-13.  However, Matthew adds much more detail, as we should expect since he was one of the twelve.  This commissioning is not something a person would forget.  The Apostles were to walk up to a home and give it their Shalom; “Peace be to this house”.  If it were truly a house of peace the people would listen.  If it was not, the people would resist the message (the same message John the Baptist proclaimed, by the way).  So the two Apostles were to respectfully leave the people of that home to deal with life in their own way.  In other words, the Apostles came to a home and said “I come bringing good news of peace”.  Some people would listen and respond.  And in that home the people would know peace.  Other homes would reject God’s message of peace through His Son Jesus.  So the Apostles were to leave, taking the message to another home.  What they were doing was scattering the seed (see Matthew 13:3-9).

      Matthew 10:16  Be wise in avoiding danger, but don’t forcibly oppose the enemy.  When the enemy reveals himself, the Apostles were to be calm and peaceful.  This becomes a testimony to Christ later on.  When standing before the Jewish religious leaders, Peter and John were quite respectful and peaceful.  They spoke appropriate words (see Acts 4:19-20).

      Matthew 10:17-20  Did these things really happen to the Apostles?  Are these arrests and beatings mentioned anywhere?  We don’t know if anything like this happened during this missionary trip, but it sure did once Jesus ascended to Heaven.  So was this a warning for the present time or a warning of what would come in the future?  It seems that Jesus is speaking of a future time here because He says that their arrest will be an opportunity to speak to Gentiles (Matthew 10:18), even though He had instructed them earlier to avoid them (Matthew 10:5).  Jesus also speaks of the Holy Spirit guiding their speech (Matthew 10:20).  The Apostles didn’t receive the Spirit until the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).  So it appears Jesus was giving them a future warning.

      Matthew 10:21-23  Perhaps this entire section (from verse 16 to 23) is prophetic; speaking of a future time.  The warning here is clear, and it does not just apply to the Apostles.  You and I need to be aware that because we labor in Christ’s name, we will be hated by organized religion (Matthew 10:17), government (Matthew 10:18), and even our own family (Matthew 10:21).  Verse 23 does not speak about the return of Christ but the Reign of Christ.  The Son of Man, as described in Daniel 7:13-14, speaks of Him being seated upon the throne, something that happened after the resurrection.  So Christ (the Son of Man) was seated upon His throne before any of the Apostles could take the Gospel Message to every town in Israel.

      Matthew 10:24-39  A couple of things really stand out here.  A true disciple of Jesus will be persecuted.  The world hates Christians because we don’t think or act like the world.  The presence of one righteous person in a community sets a standard of holiness the rest of the community cannot tolerate.  To retaliate, the people of this world will tell lies, gossip, and spread slanderous rumors about a true disciple.  And they will do this not because the Christian is a bad person, but because the Christian’s holiness and righteousness make everyone else look bad.  This is why a true disciple needs to fear God (respect God), not the things people can say or do.  To kill a Christian is to simply send them home (thank you Karen Hancock for the superb illustration).

      Matthew 10:40-42  In light of being rejected by the people of earth, Jesus says the faithful will be accepted and rewarded in Heaven.  I do not an earthly reward being promised in this section.  I see Jesus speaking of what will take place after the Day of Judgment.  And according to Warren Wiersbe, “As our Advocate, He forgives and restores us when we do sin (1 John 2:1–2). The merits of His heavenly intercessory work do not depend on our faithfulness, for He is faithful even if we are not (2 Timothy 2:12–13). But the benefits of His heavenly ministry are for those who are faithful to Him. When Christ confesses us before the Father, He is securing for us the benefits of His sacrificial work on the cross. When He denies us before the Father, He is unable to share these graces with us. The fault is ours, not His.   But something else is involved. One day we shall stand before His judgment seat where the rewards will be distributed (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10). If we have denied Him, we will lose rewards and the joy of hearing His “Well done.” To be sure, anyone who denies Him on earth may be forgiven. Peter denied the Lord three times, was forgiven, and was restored.” ^[1]

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^[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Mt 10:24). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

January 13th Bible Study Companion

Matthew 13, Mark 5

Matthew 13

      Matthew 13:1-23  This is Matthew’s version of the Parable of the Sower.  Like Mark, Matthew has Jesus sitting in a boat.  Jesus used a known truth to communicate an unknown truth.  Over the years I have forgotten what it is like to be unable to discern the Spiritual Truth behind these stories.  But I know at one point I was just as blind and deaf as some in the crowd the day Jesus spoke in Parables.  I’d like to talk to someone today who reads these and says, “I don’t get it”.  What is it like to hear this story and think “so, what’s the point”?

      Matthew 13:24-30  This Parable begins a series where the Kingdom of Heaven is compared to something we see happening on earth.  In this Parable the Kingdom of Heaven is patient and filled with grace.  As indicated here, the Landowner stays the hand of the workers lest the wheat be harmed as well.  “Wait until the harvest (the Day of Judgment), and then separate the wheat from the tares”, He says.  That’s grace.  That’s patience.  That’s also faith.  God has so much faith in real Christians that He believes they will grow to full maturity in spite of counterfeit Christians.  It also indicates that real Christians will be easily identified at the harvest.  What’s interesting is that the weed Jesus described looks a lot like wheat.  When they are young, both plants look very similar.  Only after they age can anyone easily tell the difference.  Tares do not turn golden with age.  In actual practice, the people who would harvest the wheat would sort through the grains, tossing the Tares (or Darnel) into a burning pot.  Darnel (or Tares) kernels are grey while Wheat kernels are golden brown.  In the same way, God has said He will wait until Judgment Day to separate the Wheat from the Tares.  On that day when everything external is stripped away, that which has been hidden will be revealed.

      Matthew 13:31-32  The Mustard plant can reach 12 to 15 feet in height in one season.  This Parable probably talks about Christianity in general; that what began so small will grow to be enormous in due time.

      Matthew 13:33  In other places in the Bible yeast is compared to something evil.  But here it is used to illustrate the affect God’s Kingdom would have in the world.  Once yeast begins its work in the dough, nothing can stop the process.  So too will it be with the Kingdom of Heaven (or the Kingdom of God).

      Matthew 13:36-43  Jesus does us a great favor by explaining the Parable of the Wheat and Tares.  I appreciate that the disciples asked what you and I wanted to ask.  Jesus’ response is pretty straight forward.  The explanation seems clear, unless, of course, you are familiar with end time prophecy.  Here it sounds as if the wicked are to be taken away instead of the Church raptured away.  “They will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness” (Matthew 13:41).  To understand this we need to keep in mind that Jesus is talking about the Kingdom of Heaven (or the Kingdom of God – both terms mean the same thing).  And although Jesus came to usher in the Kingdom of Heaven, that Kingdom will not end one day in the future.  His is a Kingdom without end (see Daniel 2:44).  As all of humanity stands before the Throne on Judgment Day, all of humanity will be in God’s Kingdom (remember, this will be after the harvest).  And standing there will be many people who called out to Him “Lord, Lord” (remember Matthew 7:21), but were nothing more than counterfeit Christians.  I sometime wonder if these people think they are Christian because they look and act like the Christians they know.

      Matthew 13:44-46  These two parables may be linked together.  I think it’s important that we keep in mind what Jesus has been saying so far.  He’s talked about Himself and the Word.  So the Man and the Merchant in these two parables probably represent Jesus.  Jesus is the One who found the thing of value and sold all that He had in order to purchase them (the Hidden Treasure and the Costly Pearl).  The Hidden Treasure may represent Israel (compare Psalm 135:4) and the Pearl may represent the Church.  Perhaps one could say that the Church grew out of the wounds of Christ.  He sold all that He had in order to purchase the Church (Compare Philippians 2:6-8).

      Matthew 13:47-50  It’s interesting that in this parable the fish are all taken together, then separated.  Some use this parable as a teaching against the rapture.  But remember that we are talking about Judgment Day, and it is possible that the Church will not be present.  The Church (authentic Christians) escape Judgment (see John 5:24).  The main point in this parable is that no one unrighteous will be permitted to remain in the Kingdom of Heaven.  They will be cast aside into the fire.  Only then will they be filled with regret and remorse.

      Matthew 13:51-52  I think the disciples lied here.  Or perhaps they merely understood the surface truths.  What they did not know was that the Messiah’s Kingdom would be rejected, would be filled with counterfeits, that it would begin quite small at first, and that in order for the Messiah to rule it would cost Him everything.  Notably different is that to the Jews the Messiah would drive out all the unrighteous when He came.  But Jesus says that the unrighteous will be permitted for a season, and then will come the Judgment.

      Matthew 13:53-58  In a second visit back home, the people still could not accept Jesus as the Messiah.  Notice that they still saw Him as merely a man (Matthew 13:54).  They wondered where this Man could get His powers.  But Jesus was not and is not merely a Man; He is God incarnate; God in the flesh.  Four of Jesus’ half-brothers are mentioned here, not to be confused with those by the same name who were His disciples.

Mark 5

      Mark 5:1-20  This is Mark’s version of the demon possessed man from the Gerasene region.  Mark says the demons did not want sent to a distant place, not the abyss, as Luke records it (Luke 8:31).  Mark also repeats how troubled the townspeople were about the loss of the herd (I wonder who counted), not the healing of the possessed man; a clear indication of their priorities.

      Mark 5:21-43  This repeats the story told in Luke 8:40-56 and Matthew 9:18-26.

January 12th Bible Study Companion

Luke 8, Mark 4

Luke 8

      Luke 8:1-3  Luke adds a very important reference here to the women who were following Jesus.  He even elevates them to a place of importance.  They, as well as many others, were supporting Jesus and the disciples with their own personal resources.  Like the woman we had just met in Luke 7:36-50, these women had been significantly impacted by Jesus, and they knew in their hearts that He was the real deal.  I like the way this reference falls in the Harmony of the Gospels.  They place this section soon after Jesus says that His yoke is light and easy to bear (Matthew 11:28-30).  Those who had their load lifted by Jesus were now helping bear His earthly load.  They were supporting the ministry.  Somehow I think there is a lesson to be learned here.  It seems that those whose unbearable weight has been lifted should turn and lighten the load of others, or at least make sure that the ministry of Jesus can continue.  It is not for our own benefit that we support the work of the church.  We support the church so that those who are still burdened might find them lifted as well.

      Luke 8:4-15  I can’t help but think that Jesus is doing more than simply telling some clever story here.  At first glance it would seem the desired impact would be for the hearer to search his heart and determine what sort of soil is there.  But, as Jesus has challenged, those with ear to hear (those who can perceive spiritual truths) should listen and understand.  The problem with this is that only those who are sensitive to spiritual things will consider the condition of their heart; whether they are truly receptive to the Word of God.  It just seems to me that this was probably more a teaching lesson for those who will soon be traveling out and sharing the Good news on their own.  And it would not be just the twelve Apostles.  Very soon Jesus will be sending out 70 people (Luke 10:1), and He expected them to speak the Good news of salvation to all.  Yes, the 12 apostles were not the only people telling others about Christ.  You can be sure that everyone who had been impacted by the ministry of Jesus was telling others about Jesus.  From the Woman at the well in John 4 to the 70 disciples, people were telling others about Jesus.  I think this is an important lesson for the church today.  Somehow we’ve left the responsibility to those trained and educated.  But we’ve all been called and we all are expected to tell.  So this parable becomes a lesson for every Christian.  Some whom we tell will simply not believe.  Some will turn aside.  Some will never mature.  But some will grow and flourish.  We are not to withhold the telling because we feel the soil isn’t prepared.  Our responsibility is to spread the word.

      Luke 8:16-18  Continuing on the parable of the Sower, here Jesus says that the person who listens and learns about the secrets of God’s Kingdom should not continue to keep them secret.  If the Good News has taken root in your heart, tell someone about what you have learned.  Use that wisdom and knowledge for the benefit of others.  Don’t hide it.  Don’t keep it secret and keep it safe.  And Jesus says that those who do tell others will learn even more.  I’ll amen that statement.  You have no idea how much benefit I get out of this study; how much is has deepened my faith.

      Luke 8:19-21  These brothers of Jesus were born to Mary and Joseph after Jesus was born.  They would be half-brothers.  Now although the crowd was quite large, we are left to wonder why His family was looking for a way to get close to Jesus.  In this account, it doesn’t seem like there was animosity or concern.  They didn’t seem to think He was one fry short of a happy meal.  And Jesus did not speak poorly about His family either.  I know these verses are often read with a harsh tone, but that’s not what is communicated here.  He simply took the example of family relationships and compared that to those who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.  We enter the family business, so to speak, when we respond to the teachings of Jesus and tell others about God’s Good News.

      Luke 8:22-25  Sudden storms like this happen occasionally on the Sea of Galilee.  Wind whips the water into large waves.  We don’t know how many disciples were in the boat.  It was probably more than the twelve apostles.  But I am sure all of them had been listening to Jesus teach and had seen His many miracles.  Perhaps some were even the recipients of a miracle.  So, after hearing and witnessing Jesus work among them, this little scare would have been an excellent opportunity to exercise their faith.  Unfortunately they don’t.  They go to Jesus and point out how big the storm is. And it’s important that we learn more than the little phrase “Tell the storm how big your God is”.  That sounds reassuring and gives us some strength to face what we are dealing with.  But even then we are looking to have the storm calmed; to awaken our Savior who will deliver us FROM what we are facing.  I’ll admit that Jesus can do that.  He has done that.  But the faith I think He is looking for is the kind that rests in the promises of Jesus; that holds fast to His promises IN the storm.  “We’re going to the other side” Jesus said.  End of discussion.  And no amount of wind or waves would keep that from happening.  The disciples should have drawn strength from how peaceful Jesus was; peaceful enough to sleep.  A person of faith would have drawn assurance from that peace.  Jesus wasn’t concerned, so why were they?

      Luke 8:26-33  Matthew reports that there were two men (see Matthew 8:28-34), while Luke only mentions one.  There probably were two, but perhaps Luke merely wanted to single out this one.  This is a strong example of Jesus’ argument against the Pharisees who claimed He was working with the Devil (see Mark 3:27).  Even the demons knew that Jesus was the stronger man and that He had the authority to bind them or imprison them.  In Matthew’s account the demons mention Jesus tormenting them before God’s appointed time (Matthew 8:29).  So there was a definite recognition of Jesus’ authority and of His coming judgment against these demons.  And they were alarmed that this time of judgment had come already.  This event is also an excellent example of what Demon possession really looks like.  Time and space does not permit me to talk about this at length, but let me simply say that sometimes the church is too quick to demonize someone.  Too quickly we identify someone as demon possessed when instead we should merely be pointing to their sinful human nature.  It’s quite obvious this man was being controlled against his will.  Let’s not attribute to Satan what we should be confessing as sin.

      Luke 8:32-33  There are three different names mentioned concerning this story: Gerasenes (Mentioned here), Gadarenes (Mentioned in Matthew), and Gergasenes (mentioned by historian Origen).  Reliable sources use the name Gerasenes, which refers to the Gentile town of Gersa, located on the eastern shore of the sea.  Today the town is called Khersa.  This is important because of the pigs.  If this was a Jewish settlement, we would wonder why there was a herd of pigs.  If it was not, then we wouldn’t question why.  Regardless, I think it’s funny that the Demons didn’t want to be cast into the abyss (a watery grave), but the pigs end up in the water anyway.

      Luke 8:34-37  I’m not sure the people were upset about the pigs or were worried about what Jesus might cast out of them.  But what stands out here is that people turned Jesus away out of fear: something we still see people doing today.

      Luke 8:38-39  Isn’t it sad that this man wasn’t permitted to travel with Jesus?  He asked a simple thing, really.  He asked to go along with the group.  But Jesus said no.  Jesus said, “I have another plan for you”.  I wonder how this man felt.  I wonder if he felt Jesus was rejecting him.  Did he feel crushed and abandoned?  Was he angry that Peter and James and John got to travel around with Jesus while he was left to preach to a small crowd in a small town; to a group of people who sent Jesus away?  I think Christians (and churches) need to realize that God has a plan and a purpose for all of us.  He has a plan and a goal in mind, and uses the right people in the right place at the right time to accomplish that goal.  Each Christian is gifted and called to serve the Kingdom in their own unique way.  The Apostles were called to be leaders (one day).  This man was called to be a witness; speaking to others about what Jesus had done in his life.  Both are important.  Both advance the Kingdom.  Likewise, I believe a church needs to keep this in mind as well.  God has a goal in mind, and a church would be wise to listen to what God is calling that church to do and who He needs that church to be in its own community.  For example, this man would be able to give a better testimony than the apostles because people from town knew him before Christ healed him.  And the change would be noticeable.  My point is that when Jesus says no to our request He is not saying no to our usefulness.  He is simply pointing out that we can serve the Kingdom best in some other place or in some other way.

      Luke 8:40-48  The woman in this story was bleeding for as long as Jairus’ daughter had been alive.  He was an important official in town; responsible for the care and upkeep of the local synagogue.  He would have been an upstanding individual in the community.  In contrast, this woman would have been an outcast because of her constant hemorrhaging; she would have been ceremonially unclean.  But Jesus draws no distinction.  Both demonstrate faith in Jesus.  Both knew He could help them.  Jairus asks in faith.  The woman reaches out in faith.  Actually, this woman took a big step of faith just by being out in the crowd.  Anyone who touched her would become unclean.  So she took a significant risk in walking among the crowd.  Jesus, knowing who touched Him, asked the woman to reveal herself to the crowd; another significant step of faith.  But here’s something else that just occurred to me.  Peter points out that the whole crowd was pressing close, so this woman would have been inadvertently touching a lot of other people that day.  It had to have happened!  So there were probably a lot of other people who have become ritually unclean that day, maybe even Jairus.  On any other day this woman would have been shunned and cast aside.  She had cooties, so to speak, and everyone would have avoider her.  Now, maybe I’m reading a bit much into the story, but I see an incredible example of the double standard by which people lived.  It seems that the community was quick to identify the sins in others, but hesitant to admit there was sin in themselves.  They were quick with judgment and slow with grace.  Not too much has changed, wouldn’t you agree?  How often have we heard someone cry that people need to be held accountable for their sin while they cry for God to show grace for theirs.

      Luke 8:49-56  I wonder how irritated Jairus had become because of the delay this woman had caused.  I’m not sure if he was irritated, but I know I would have been, and I would have been constantly looking at my watch, grumbling that I got to Jesus first.  See, I expect Jesus to keep a timetable.  I expect Him to care for people on a first-come, first-served basis.  Unfortunately that is a sign of my selfishness and a sign that I lack faith.  Also in this story we see the first sign of an inner group of leaders being formed.  Jesus takes Peter, James, and John into the room.  The rest of the disciples he leaves outside.  In this entire chapter we see all things come under Jesus’ authority.  He has authority over the wind and the waves.  He has authority over the forces of darkness.  He even has authority over the Law.  Consider that He healed an unclean woman and touched a dead person.  By Jewish standards He would have been unclean and would have had to cut Himself off from the rest of the people for seven days (compare Numbers 19:11-16).  But the text doesn’t indicate that this was even an issue.

Mark 4

      Mark 4:1-20  Mark, along with Matthew, points out that this parable was told while Jesus was on a boat.  Luke simply begins with the Parable (Luke 8:4-10).  In addition to what I shared earlier in today’s reading, I’d like to talk about the “Harvest” in this story.  We know the seed is the word of God.  The Sower is anyone who tells people about Jesus.  And we know about the 4 different types of soil.  But what exactly is the Crop?  And what is the significance of the “Fruit” producing 30, 60, or 100 times more than what had been sown?  First of all, we need to keep in mind that a Parable is not an Allegory; a story where everything in it represents something else.   A Parable is a short story designed to illustrate a moral or religious lesson.  So we should not get hung up on the numbers, and perhaps not even try to figure out what the “fruit” is.  The religious lesson here is that bearing fruit is showing signs that the Word of God has taken root in our heart; that the message of Jesus has changed us.  If a person has been reborn by hearing the message of Jesus, their life will truly show it.  They will become more loving, filled with joy, at peace with others, patient when wronged, kind to those who don’t deserve it, will work for that which is good, will be faithful in what they say or promise, gentle with the feelings of others, and demonstrate self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23).

      Mark 4:11-12  I wanted to specifically talk about these two verses because at first glance they can seem a bit troubling.  Jesus quoted from Isaiah 6:9-10, comparing the people of Israel in His day with the people of Israel in Isaiah’s day.  In both instances everyone was given an opportunity to hear and be saved.  And just like in Isaiah’s time the people had hard-hearts and closed minds.  Like Isaiah, Jesus said, “This is what keeps them from understanding.  They simply are not teachable.  If they were, then they would turn from their wickedness and be saved”.  Take notice what happens here.  The disciples asked for an explanation.  But few of the religious leaders even took the time to talk with Jesus.  What Nicodemus did was unusual (see John 3:4).

      Mark 4:21-25  Both paragraphs need to be read in order to fully understand what Jesus is saying.  Like a lamp, those who respond to the message (the seed which bears fruit), will be seen by all.  The change will become evident, BUT, like a lamp, it does need fuel to keep on burning.  That’s why it’s important for Christians to continue in prayer and study.  It is the Christian who stays faithful in these things that continues to grow.  As Christians it is important for us to realize that the race does not end at our baptism; that’s the starting line!  “The more we hear the Word of God, the better we are able to share it with others.  But the moment we think that we know it all, what we think we know will be taken from us.  We must take heed what we hear (Mark 4:24) as well as take heed how we hear (Luke 8:18). Our spiritual hearing determines how much we have to give to others”. ^[1]

      Mark 4:26-29  Keep in mind that Jesus is preparing His disciples to go out and preach the Good News.  First He told them that not every person will respond to the Gospel Message.  Here He reminds them that they are responsible only for the planting of that seed.  God will cause the growth.  Growth will take a certain amount of time.  And God is the one who will reap the harvest.  In a later parable He will talk about the Master who reaps where he did not sow (Matthew 25:24).

      Mark 4:30-32  Continuing in His training, Jesus reminds the disciples that what may seem small at first will grow quite large.  The work that you and I do in the Lord’s name may seem simple and insignificant.  But we need to remember that the small seed we plant in others may one day change their entire life.  No deed done in the name of Jesus is too small or too insignificant.  We are called not to judge the size of the deed or the simplicity of the message we shared.  We are called to be faithful, and let God do the mysterious work within that person’s heart.  However, knowing this truth is not the same as living this truth.  I still struggle with doubts that a simple word here or a kind gesture there in the name of the Lord was sufficient.

      Mark 4:35-41  This story repeats what is told in Luke 8:22-25 

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^[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Mk 3:22). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

January 11th Bible Study Companion

Luke 7, Matthew 11

Luke 7

      Luke 7:1-5 Don’t miss the significance of what Luke says here.  The Roman Centurion, who had 100 soldiers under his command, was well liked by the people around Galilee.  Let’s contrast this Gentile soldier with what we just heard Jesus say about the Jewish Religious Leaders.  Remember the Tree and its fruit reference in Matthew 7:16?  This Soldier’s action testifies what sort of man he really was.  However, I believe this went both ways.  See, for this Roman Soldier to actually love these Jewish people, they must have acted toward him in loving ways.  At least that’s the way I see it.  I see a community of God-fearing people treating an outsider with dignity and love, and the outsider responding in like manner. 

      Luke 7:6-10  Jesus was blown away by this man’s faith.  Not just because he recognized Jesus as a man of God, but because he recognized Jesus’ authority.  And that is quite rare, even for people today.  Perhaps the Roman soldier had seen some of the miracles of Jesus, or at least had heard about the things He had done.  Now, if he had been a Gentile Soldier, seeing or hearing about any god performing such miracles would have been a real eye-opener.  The Jews, on the other hand, would have known or at least read about all the things God did for them in the past.  So maybe familiarity to God’s power anesthetized the Jews; seeing or hearing of a miracle was not shocking.  I wonder if our close proximity to the workings of God has numbed us as well.  Maybe that’s why a person of the world responds to grace with much more emotion than someone who grew up in church. 

      Luke 7:11-17  Nain was about 25 miles from Capernaum.  And since Jewish custom was to bury the dead on the same day, it’s possible Jesus and His crowd of disciples left just as the boy died.  I say it’s possible because the text gives us no reason as to why they traveled there.  Is it possible that Jesus was sent there for this very purpose; that this was not a chance meeting?  The men carrying the casket stopped, not out of respect for Jesus, but out of shock.  What Jewish man in his right mind would touch the casket of a dead person?  They would have been defiled for seven days (Numbers 19:11).  Yet Jesus stretches out His hand and touches out of sympathy and compassion.  Just as with the Centurion’s servant, the authority and power of Jesus is demonstrated through compassion and sympathy, not political power or military might.  What sword did Jesus need to defeat death?  What shield did He carry to protect Himself from uncleanliness?  Such was (is) the holiness of Christ.  Whoever lays hold of Him is made clean; is made holy (compare Exodus 29:37).

      Luke 7:18-23  Jesus reminds John the Baptist that a person is blessed when they are not distracted about other things; when they are not ensnared away from Jesus.  In prison, perhaps John was feeling alone and insignificant.  Perhaps he began to wonder if he had really made any difference at all.  These doubts and worries crowded out faith, and so John was no longer sure.  The Good News is that Jesus sends these two disciples back to John able to testify about what they had seen and heard.  And their fellowship with John would have given him great comfort.  By now, John was in prison because of what he said to Herod.  And what John needed was Christian Fellowship, not just a simple answer.

      Luke 7:24-28  John the Baptist was not someone who was out to please the crowd.  He was not looking to get rich by speaking comforting words.  He was a prophet, and not just any prophet but The Prophet promised in Malachi 3:1.  He was the one who would prepare the way for the Messiah; the Christ.  But regardless of how great a prophet John the Baptist was, the least in the Kingdom of God was greater.  Now, Jesus isn’t bad-mouthing John.  John’s message of repentance was the same message Jesus preached.  But prophets are used to draw people to the Kingdom of God.  Prophets point the way.  Prophets are essential, but the most important thing is to be part of the Kingdom of God.  That’s the highest honor.

      Luke 7:29-30  And of course everyone who had been baptized by John understood this.  They knew that John was merely pointing them to Jesus; the One who would grant them entrance into God’s Kingdom.  It’s no different than what a pastor does.  A good pastor simply points the lost to Christ, not to himself or even the Church.  No person can save another person, and neither is a person saved through church membership.  If I share the Good News with someone, I do not save them.  Christ is the One who saves.  It is His Kingdom they are entering, not a denomination or any religious institution.

      Luke 7:31-35  For those who rejected John’s testimony and Jesus’ witness, they are like children who are never happy.  Nothing ever suits them.  In other words, they had crafted their own idea of what the Messiah would act like, what He would do, and what He would say.  Yet when the Messiah actually came, He was nothing like they had imagined.  So they rejected Him.  But the wisdom of those who were baptized by John will one day condemn the folly of these religious leaders.

      Luke 7:36-50  This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible.  The woman at the feet of Jesus emptied her life and gave it all to Jesus.  Likewise, I have allowed Him to make me into someone new, and I have allowed Him to use my lips, my hands, and my mind so that He is exalted and His message is preached.  This is what Jesus desires from everyone; be they a sinful woman or a self-righteous Pharisee.  This woman emptied herself at the feet of Jesus, but Simon doesn’t empty a thing.  He doesn’t surrender himself in any way.  The phrase “But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love” is not a condemnation toward those who have only sinned a little.  It’s a condemnation toward those who feel they have little to be forgiven.  The sinful woman was broken before Jesus.  Simon was not.  And only a life broken and empty can be filled with the things of God.  “God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves”. -- Dwight L. Moody

Matthew 11

      Matthew 11:1  This verse is tied together with the events mentioned in chapter ten.  Chronologically, the narrative picks up in verse 2

      Matthew 11:2-19  This section is almost similar to what we read in Luke 7:18-35.  Matthew adds a reflection about the violent rejection of God’s Kingdom by violent men (Matthew 11:12).  Since the old days prophets have foretold of this time.  The Word of God spoke of this time; where God enters time to redeem humanity.  But these violent men wanted a kingdom of their own making, not the Kingdom of God.  It almost seems to me that these Jewish religious leaders had made up their mind what the Kingdom of God should look like based upon their current situation and based upon their current need.  They were not considering the needs of others or what would benefit all of humanity.  They rejected the message of John; his radical message that demonstrated a new way to righteousness and a new way to holiness.  Maybe they were angry because they feared losing their job!  Today, we don’t need a priest to intercede for us.  Today we don’t need someone to slaughter the animals for the sacrifice.  Christ has accomplished these things.  So maybe that was part of their violent rejection of John’s message and Jesus’ teachings.

      Matthew 11:20-24  These three cities situated around the northern border of Galilee saw some of the most amazing miracles of Jesus.  It was here that the prophecy of Isaiah came true (Isaiah 61:1).  And yet it seems it didn’t affect these cities in any way.  I’m tempted to say that these miracles were wasted; that Jesus did great things, yet no one changed.  But I hesitate to say this is true.  People were touched.  Individuals had their lives impacted by what Jesus did.  But the cities remained the same.  In other words; those not directly impacted by what Jesus did were not moved or changed in any way.  And I just don’t get that.  If I were to see my blind neighbor reading a menu at the restaurant, I’d be a little curious.  Or to see the crippled boy playing soccer would cause me to at least pause and reflect on the power of this man named Jesus.  So Jesus is quite disappointed in these cities; these towns.  He said that the cities would receive judgment, but not individuals.  This is an important distinction that we should not miss.  Israel had taken God’s grace and made it a national promise.  Kind of like saying God Bless America.  But God does not save nations or kingdoms.  He saves people; a point Jesus will make in the next section.

      Matthew 11:25-27  As opposed to cities or towns repenting, here Jesus speaks of individuals; those who choose to accept Him; those who open their eyes.  This is what we see in children.  They have not closed their minds to life yet.  They are open to hearing and learning.  They would look at the miracles of Jesus and say, “Wow!”

      Matthew 11:28-30  In context here, what would cause an individual to be weary?  To whom was Christ beckoning?  It was probably those who had grown weary of bearing the weight of the Law.  I mean, think about it; could you imagine trying to keep all 613 laws of the Pharisees?  And they were teaching the people that observing these laws would make someone right with God.  Jesus is presenting a different way to righteousness.  He is offering a yoke (or burden) anyone could bear.  And unlike what the Pharisees were offering, Jesus says that those who place their faith in Him will finally find the assurance they’ve been looking for.  In contrast, there was no rest in the way of the Pharisees.