Matthew Eleven

This chapter begins with talk of John. He was put in prison sometime after baptizing Jesus. He heard about what Jesus was doing and asked his disciples to go find out if Jesus really is the Messiah, whom they have been waiting for.

Think about that for a moment. John, the one who leaped in his mother's belly the first time he was near Jesus (who was in Mary's belly), and the one who recognized Jesus the moment He started walking towards the water to be baptized, the one who actually baptized Jesus, and the one who Malachi wrote about in the OT, questioned whether or not it was really Him. He wanted confirmation. Interesting.

The last half of the chapter is a great example for us.

1. Jesus spoke firmly to those who had rejected Him. He called them out on their sin and unleashed the truth on them.

2. Jesus abruptly broke into prayer. He turned His focus back to His Father and Lord of all creation, acknowledging that only God knows all His ways.

3. Jesus resumed talking to the people but now tenderly. He expressed His desire to have a conversation with the people one-on-one. He wanted to listen to them and share His rest with them.

Religious rules can make us lash out at people. We see it in the church all the time. "We do it this way!" "No, that way!" Jesus invites us to get away from religion and enter into a relationship with Him - a relationship of grace.

Jesus demonstrated in point 1 where our hearts are often - firmly calling people out on their sin. This is needed in the right time and place. What we often miss are the next two points: going to our Father in prayer and having Him soften our hearts so we can speak tenderly to people and go through the Gospel line-by-line.

If we are truly representing Jesus, we have to show His tender love, His amazing grace, and His abundant rest.