Matthew 11:25-30

Can I Know God?

One honest question from John the Baptist, languishing in prison - Are You the One to Come or should we look for another?

Jesus’ answer reminded His listeners that indeed He is the One to Come.

Not only is He now present and active His very activity and presence are the evidence of judgment both He and John predicted!

Jesus called out the hypocrisy of the people in the towns and and villages He and His disciples had visited. They loved His miraculous activity. Instead of responding with genuine repentance most continued in patterns of unbelief.

How are to understand this prayer of Jesus and the invitation He offers in this transitional passage?

A Reminder of Ultimate Authority

As Matthew tells the story of Jesus he recalls several points of tension between the religious authorities and Jesus. In Matthew 9 Jesus pronounces the forgiveness of sin - which sets the religious authorities abuzz. As they understood God’s Word only God has the right to offer forgiveness of sin. And, as God’s Word - that is, the OT - makes clear, forgiveness is ALWAYS conditioned upon sacrifice.

When Jesus recognizes their concerns He doesn’t argue, He just acts as though He Himself is God. This of course brings immediate charges of blasphemy! Jesus is calling Himself God!

Not many sentences later, Jesus is enjoying food and conversation at the house of Matthew - a ‘tax-collector’ whom Jesus has called to follow. Matthew invited fellow tax-collectors and others like himself. These ‘kind’ of people, according to the Jewish religious authorities were ‘sinners’ and ‘unclean.’ They were to be avoided at all costs!

As Jesus sent His disciples into the villages He mentions in Matthew 11:20-24, He instructed them to be prepared for rejection and even persecution.

In pronouncing judgement on those villages, even to the point of mentioning such godless places like Tyre, Sidon, Sodom and Gomorrah, Jesus is exposing old and hardened patterns of unbelief.

Jesus’ prayers (vs 25-27) begins with an affirmation of God as the ultimate authority. Yes, the religious leaders have a responsibility, but they are NOT ‘Lord’ of heaven and earth. That distinction is God and God’s alone.

There is a place and time for religious authorities to speak, and a responsibility for them to protect the truth.

As the second part of Jesus’ prayer unfolds,

Jesus Affirms Revelation as God’s Ultimate Right

The contrast between the ‘wise and learned’ and infants is not about age or even education. Rather it is a contrast between distinct ways of relating to God.

Some rely on education, on following ritual, tradition, and holding to the faith of their fathers as the way to discover truth.

Jesus, however, assures us that infants - dependent, vulnerable, open to all experiences - these are the ones to whom God makes Himself known!

Mutual Revelation of the Son and the Father

The remainder of Jesus’ vocal prayer (vs 27) must have further infuriated the religious leaders. How dare Jesus claim that which is God’s alone? How could Jesus claim to have ‘knowledge’ of the Father? What ‘school,’ had Jesus attended? What ‘tradition’ did Jesus hold? What ‘authority’ could Jesus quote to back up His audacious claims?

Jesus needs none of the criteria deemed necessary. Jesus held no prestigious degree, He had not studied with any of the leading Rabbi’s. Jesus knew because He was One with the Father and the Father was One with Him.

Only ‘infants’ can receive this!

Do you remember the wonder that filled your children/grandchildren’s eyes when you showed them the simple beauty of a sunset? Or when they saw a field of wild daffodils blooming? Or when the majesty of a crystal white cloud passed overhead in a spotlessly blue sky?

The Invitation to Rest

In March of 2020 when all the craziness of COVID really hit us, I spent much of the first few weeks and even months in discouragement. Several exciting things were happening spiritually in and around our church family. And then, boom. No in-person meetings allowed.

We survived that period of time. We have dodged a few COVID scares in recent months. We met as a church family in June and began to plan and prepare for a new season of ministry beginning in October.

And now, here we are back to where we were in 2020.

Or, are we?

Acknowledge your weariness

Many who follow Christ must appear to be hyperactive people. As a boy and even a pastor I evaluated people’s depth of commitment to Jesus on the level of their attendance and church.

Frankly, I look back and realize - I wore some folks out.

Jesus is not inviting us to a series of meetings, a system of behaviors. He is asking us to be honest. Religious systems like churches can wear you out. Ritual can be exhausting. Devoting one’s self to a detailed list of what can be done and what can’t be done will tire even the strongest among us.

Jesus is inviting us to Himself. He gives rest. Not a church. Not a checklist of do’s and don’ts.

Link your life with His

We speak often of becoming a Christian in churches.

to ‘become’ a Christian is an exchange of lives.

we admit that on our own we are far from God and no matter how diligently we have tried we just can’t seem to get near.

we accept the truth that God has created us for more than we are experiencing in our life. All of us have tried to discover this in so many ways. Some try to experience more by devoting themselves to more and more church type activities. Others seek to become so emotionally engaged that all sorts of interesting behavior might occur. Most in our part of the world look for the ‘more,’ the purpose and meaning in family, fun, and festivities - sports, hanging with friends, hunting, fishing, and more than a few of us throw ourselves into our work.

The more we are made for is this: take what Jesus died to give - new life.

Jesus’ died on the cross that our sin - in full - would be covered.

Because Jesus died and was laid in a borrowed grave God gave Him new life - a life that HE invites us to share.

Take His yoke, learn of Him - spend time with Jesus -

by reading the Bible, by talking to Him, by learning with us about Him, discovering who He is as He reveals Himself to you, to me, and to us.

NEXT STEPS:

Over these next weeks you and I have an opportunity to evaluate our lives.

Am I truly content?

Contentment and happiness are two radically different experiences.

Chasing happiness will exhaust you - ask anyone who has spent an entire weekend trying to be ‘happy’ how they feel on Monday morning!

Contentment, or as Jesus invites us to ‘rest’ is accepting life as it is, knowing that the Lord of heaven and earth has more than enough to sustain and strengthen you for where you are.

Am I ready to stop being weary and burdened?

Discovering the lire God has for us is about being honest with ourselves. Because we are sinners - by birth unable to do anything that earns us favor with God - we will exhaust ourselves trying to find Him - until we accept His invitation:

Am I ready to link my life with Jesus?

Jesus lived a perfectly obedient life. He died as a sacrifice for sin - once for all, in obedience to God.s plan, that He might experience new life - a life He invites us to share.

Will you Come to Jesus with me?