Key Text: Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented Not (Matthew 11:20).
John The Baptist was in prison in a fortress of Herod who rebuilt his once sinful pleasure-house among the cliffs of Moab. No wonder that in the foul atmosphere of a dark dungeon, John felt that “all his mind was clouded with doubt.” John had recognized Jesus at His baptism when our Lord was clearly marked out for him by God. But now even John was wondering. John expected the King and kingdom to burst on Israel with outward power. Not even John had expected the coming to be a servant King. Prematurely, John began to wonder if Jesus was but a precursor, as he himself was. He was puzzled and asked, “Art Thou He that cometh or are we to expect another?” Jesus does not answer Yes or No. Instead, it is as if He said, “Have you forgotten that the very prophets whose words have fed your hopes and now seem to minister to your doubts, have said this about the Messiah?” Jesus’ answer was to direct John’s attention to the acts of mercy He was performing, the Works of Christ. “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the Good New is preached to the poor” vv 4-5. The greatest of all in this life cannot be compared with the glory of the life to come through Christ, “the Elijah who was to come” v 14. It seems to be that John was to form a link between the Old and New Testaments. But the people of Israel were unable to make up their minds and contrasted John’s demand of repentance with Jesus’ normal life and friendship with sinners v 19. Jesus did not fit their expectations and they could not make up their minds what He should be like. They changed the rules at whim. They refused to take thought of themselves that Jesus is our friend because He is the friend of sinners, and we are sinners. TO BE FRIENDS OF CHRIST IS THE HIGHEST HONOUR AND BLESSING.
Then Jesus uttered words of warning and judgment. Jesus pronounced woes to cities near the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee: Tyre, Sodom, Siden and Phoenician cities on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Capernaum was chosen by Jesus to be His headquarters, which was doubly blessed. They would face an even greater condemnation. Prosperity was a main reason for their indifference toward Christ. How easily men imagine that they can live on one another by their wits. AMEN!
HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH
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