“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Jesus once asked His
disciples that question (Matthew 16:13).
They gave several answers reflective of the prevailing opinions of that
day. And so it is still—people respond
in various ways to the truth about Jesus.
Matthew chapter 11 speaks to some of these various responses and
opinions…
Belief but
with doubts. John the Baptist was sent
by God as the forerunner of the Christ (John 1:6-7; Mark 1:1-3). He preached in the wilderness calling people
to repentance (Matthew 3:1-2). He faithfully
bore witness of Jesus identifying Him to be the Christ (John 1:19-28). He was later imprisoned (Matthew 11:2). From prison, having heard of “the deeds of
the Christ,” he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to
come, or shall we look for another? (Matthew 11:2-3). How are we to account for this change in
John? What caused him to doubt? We should note that there is no record of
Jesus rebuking or criticizing John. In
fact, Jesus would go on to both assure him and commend him to others (Matthew
11:7-15). He doubted not as a skeptical unbeliever,
but as one who believed but had questions.
No doubt John’s doubts were rooted in Jesus’ failure to measure up to
his preconceived expectations. John was
in prison. Jesus was not acting like a
King--hence his doubt. But John did the
right thing. He took his doubts directly
to the One who alone could address them.
Criticism no
matter what. Jesus used the example
of John the Baptist to address the problem of critical unbelief that was
characteristic of the masses. They were
like “children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, ‘We
played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did
not mourn’ (Matthew 11:16-17).” In those
days the marketplace was a busy place filled with families and children. Children would gather and play. What would they play? The main social events of that day were
weddings and funerals. And so the
children would play games related to both.
But whether with the flute and a dance (as in a wedding) or a dirge (as
in a funeral), there were some who would in either case refuse to join in. John the Baptist came “neither eating nor
drinking” and they said “He has a demon” (Matthew 11:18).” Jesus came “eating and drinking” and they said,
‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!’ (Matthew 11:19).” William Barclay commented on this kind of
response: "The plain fact is that when people do not want to listen to the
truth, they will easily enough find an excuse for not listening. They do not
even try to be consistent in their criticism. They'll criticize the same person
and the same institution from quite opposite grounds and reasons. If people are
determined to make no response, they will remain stubbornly and sullenly
unresponsive no matter what invitation is made to them."
Apathetic
disregard. Jesus’ harshest
criticism was reserved for the cities “where most of his mighty works had been
done” (Matthew 11:20). Despite the clear
evidence of his miracles they “did not repent” (Matthew 11:20). Hard-hearted in their unbelief they refused
to concern themselves with either Jesus or their sin. No amount of evidence, no matter how
substantial, could work to pry open their sin-shut eyes and ears. Their apathy would be their undoing as they
would ultimately experience the severity of God’s judgment for their unbelief
(Matthew 11:20-24). Some will never be convinced
“even if someone should rise from the dead” (Matthew 16:31).
Childlike
faith. The chapter ends with a
reassuring truth and an invitation. The
reassuring truth is that God desires to reveal Himself to us. It is the “gracious will” of the “Lord of
heaven and earth” to make known His truth to those who are as “little children”
before Him (Matthew 11:25-26) This
precious reality is reaffirmed in Jesus’ invitation to the weary and heavy
laden to find rest for their souls in Him (Matthew 11:28-30). Criticism and apathy are the norm in this
sin-weary world, but Jesus promises relief to those who come to Him for rest (Matthew
11:28-30).
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