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Coming and Going 2 - Matthew 11
Coming and Going 2 - Matthew 11
Matthew 11:28-30
The Coming is obvious – the going means sharing His yoke – two views to
take to heart as we approach the end of 2008.
But before we can appreciate that invitation we need to see the other
truths taught in this passage:-
It is important for us to read the beginning of this section in v 25
25
At that time Jesus said, . . .
Jesus is here confronted with varying degrees of doubt and disbelief of His
message. It must have been hard to face up to His cousin’s imprisonment
and doubts.
He points out how He was received in comparison to John the Baptist – and
clearly Jesus is upset about the lack of faith in those cities where He had
worked many miracles.
The cities that Jesus marked out for criticism were not particularly evil –
but they had seen the miracles He did – and greeted Him with indifference
In our own day the Lord is not known, and where He is known he is
rejected in favour of materialism and humanism.
How does the Lord react?
• In verses 25-26 Jesus thanks His Father for revealing the truth not to
the wise and learned – but to little children. (Truth for young
minds)
• In verse 27 He sets out the rules for knowing God (How to know
the Truth)
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&
• In a gracious invitation
Will the Lord call down fire on those cities – no! Their judgement time will
come. Instead He speaks to His Father and marvels at the greater mystery
of God’s ways. He does not make Himself known to those who are wise and
learned – but instead to those who are unschooled in the ways of an
indifferent world – to young minds known for their openness.
The reaction of Jesus shows us how we are to measure the response to the
Gospel. He shares with His Father praise that the Father’s good pleasure is
being worked out – even when the world is indifferent and materialistic.
Many folks think that finding God is a complicated and long process – best
suited to people who are already “religious” and maybe know lots about
the Bible. The religious leaders of Christ’s day qualified for that description
– but usually missed out on any meaningful relationship with the Saviour.
Jesus reminds us that the truth about God can be grasped by “little
children”.
Being open-minded and having a simple faith is much more effective. How
easily we grow out of that! Here the criterion is helplessness rather than
knowledge.
“Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. . .”
Knowing Jesus, who explains the relationship He has with the Father – an
utterance that caused His hearers to conclude that He was claiming deity –
and so He is.
God has committed all things to His Son – all understanding of God’s
nature is revealed through Jesus.
I am the way, the truth and the life, no-one comes to the Father but by
me!
And so, in the light of these things we come to the famous words of 28-30:-
Jesus does not only offer comfortable words – He gives a NEW PURPOSE.
He wants to replace one burden with another – one troubling concern with
a life’s ambition, one puzzled view of the way things look – with a new
horizon full of exciting challenge!
The leaders of Our Lord’s time were often demanding and strict – He offers
us a teacher and role model of an altogether different kind.
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One not diverted from the truth – but gently persuasive and humble in
outlook.
Once again there is a match with Isaiah 55 where we are offered that
which satisfies and does good to the SOUL! A deeper more spiritual rest
than any that the world can offer.
“This is coming and going – coming to Him, coming alongside Him and
accepting His task in this indifferent world.”
He reflects upon the difficulties faced by those who seek to share His truth
and His gospel – not by complaint but by praise
Not by compromising the truth but by reasserting it
Reminding us that His word is received by “children”
Reassuring us that He is the centre of God’s truth