PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 11:20-24
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.” (Matthew 11:23)
Jesus is speaking in the language and understanding of the people.
To be “lifted to the heavens” was to be honoured by God.
To “go down to Hades” was to go down in shame, to be reduced to nothing.
Jesus is not teaching the people about how creation is structured.
He is warning about the consequences of rejecting goodness and mercy.
His miracles represent the goodness and mercy of God for the poor and needy.
Anyone who loved people, who longed for goodness and mercy, would appreciate Jesus.
But those who only care about themselves, and looked down on others, would not.
Like Ezekiel, Jesus compares the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum to Sodom.
“Arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.” (Ezekiel 16:49)
Their closed hearts will not bring them honour but shame, not rejoicing but regret.
How we respond to the poor and needy reveals our response to Jesus.
Is my interest in Jesus purely selfish, or am I concerned about others as he is?
Do I need to repent – to rethink my ways – and embrace the goodness and mercy of Jesus?
PRAYER
Lord, we will not be honoured if we are arrogant, overfed and unconcerned about others. Help me to see that my response to the poor and needy reveals my response to you.
The Good News does require a response – there is a need to acknowledge Jesus – to repent: “they did not repent”. How do people get to the point of repentance – what encourages them to repent – what encourages non-believers to believe – to drink of the living water? Do scare tactics work? Maybe sometimes. How about miracles? Jesus said if the miracles he performed in his own town Capernaum were performed in Sodom – there would have been repentance – a response in believing Him! There is a need for a response – but we can’t make people, coerce them or otherwise to respond positively – to turn from their ways – but we need to keep the conversation open. How do we do that as a church community? We welcome sinners because we all are. How then do we disciple each other? I think we get discipline wrong – we should be talking about discipleship instead!
The peoples then saw the miracles of Jesus but they went their own ways. They were not interested in changing their ways of living. God was not in their plans. Do I see the wonders of Jesus today? Do I even seek Him? I need open eyes, open ears and an open heart to see His goodness in the world today. I need to be alert and see God’s miracles today and respond by my living for Jesus, praising Him.
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
To see You high and lifted up
Shinin’ in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy