Matthew 11 - Jesus Can't Carry Your Burden If You Won't Let Go Of It!
Matthew 11 - NIV
Jesus and John the Baptist
11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a] 2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
Since John had announced the coming of Jesus and was in prison for standing up against the king's sexually immoral relationship, he was curious to know if Jesus really was the Messiah. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus. Rather than defending himself, or giving a long explanation, Jesus says, "Go tell John all the things you are seeing me do. The miracles and healing I am doing for all people are proof that I am the Messiah."
Of course, he didn't say it like that because he was too humble. But, the proof was in the pudding. Jesus preached the kingdom, taught the Jews how the scriptures were fulfilled in him, and then demonstrated His authority by healing the sick and diseased and casting out demons.
Note Matthew adds, "the good news was proclaimed to the poor." Though Jesus was the anointed king, it did not keep him from bringing the good news to all people, regardless of their status or importance in society.
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[d] and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
As for Jesus' opinion of John, he saw him as the greatest prophet up until that moment. But, he also added that the "least in the kingdom of heaven was greater than John". Though John introduced Jesus by saying, "the kingdom was at hand", John didn't get to see the full extent of the kingdom because he died before Jesus fulfilled his ministry on the cross.
But, like Jesus, the people did not accept John either, but criticized him for his austere lifestyle. John didn't eat or drink, and they accused him of having a demon. Jesus came eating and drinking, and they called him a glutton and drunkard. The bottom line is they would not have accepted the kingdom no matter who brought it to them. Just like they killed the prophets, they killed John, and then they killed the Messiah. But fortunately this was all part of the plan to redeem his people from sin.
Though John was great, he was not born again under the New Covenant. This is because he lived and died before the completion of Jesus’ work at the cross and empty tomb. Therefore, he did not enjoy the benefits of the New Covenant (1 Corinthians 11:25, 2 Corinthians 3:6, Hebrews 8:6-13). (Guzik)
“As we may say, as a rule, that the darkest day is lighter than the brightest night; so John, though first of his own order, is behind the last of the new or Gospel order. The least in the Gospel stands on higher ground than the greatest under the law.” (Spurgeon)
Woe on Unrepentant Towns
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[e] For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
Though Jesus invited everyone to participate in the kingdom, he had very harsh words for those who rejected it. Partly this was due to the miracles he performed in their midst. He gave then all of the evidence in the world that He was the Messiah. He fulfilled all the OT prophecies and they still did not believe.
Jesus pointed out other towns, which were considered sinful because they were inhabited by the Gentiles. But, Jesus said if they had the same miracles done in their midst, they would have repented a long time ago. You can see that as Matthew is nicknamed the "Jewish Gospel", that there is a lot of judgment given my Jesus on the Jews who were waiting for the Messiah, but rejected him when he was right in front of them.
Because most of His mighty works were done in these cities, they experienced a greater light, which also required a greater accountability. This principle – greater light means greater responsibility – means that the western world has a tremendous accountability before God. The west has had an access to the gospel that no other society has, yet remains in desperate need of repentance. (Guzik)
The Father Revealed in the Son
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. 27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Here we get a glimpse of Jesus' prayer to His Father. Jesus praised the Father for revealing Him to those who came to him as a little child, whereas the proud and haughty were blinded to the truth. Jesus affirms that everything he does is the will of the Father. At this point Jesus' job is to reveal the Father's love, which only he has access to. The Father knows him, and He knows the Father, but they would reveal their mutual love for the world in the days ahead.
There is an important difference in the way that the Son knows the Father, and the way we may know Him. We know God the Father because He stoops low to us to make Himself known. God the Son knows God the Father because they are equal in nature, completely compatible with one another.
What follows next is one of my favorite verses in the whole bible. You would do well to memorize it. I use it all the time in ministry and the words frequently find its way into my prayers for others.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
I like the Passion's translation as well,
Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. 29Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. 30For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.”
This passage shows us the heart of Jesus. The rest Jesus is talking about is "soul rest". St. Augustine said, "Our soul is restless until it rests in thee!" Our heavy burdens can represent a lot of things. We carry emotional burdens like anxiety, worry, stress, and fear. We carry spiritual burdens of guilt and shame. We carry physical burdens like weariness, an aging body, or a debilitating disease. But Jesus wants us to give all if to us.
He is willing to carry our burdens, if we are willing to release them to him. It is hard to ask for help. Jesus can't carry your burden if you won't let go of it. Though following Jesus is not always easy, it is a lot easier than not following him. When we follow Jesus, His yoke is easy. A yoke in Jesus' day was hooked to an oxen to pull the plough through the field. If it was rough, it made the work all the harder for the oxen as it rubbed their back and made it sore. Another translation which I like says, "Jesus' yoke is well-fitting".
Jesus is gentle and humble. He will never force himself on you. Most importantly Jesus will give you rest for your soul. Your soul is that part of you that wonders why you are here. Your soul is that part of you that will exist forever. Your soul and emotions are similar but also different. The word for soul in the Greek is "Pusche", where we get our word "psychology". Importantly our soul is that part of us that longs to connect with God.
When we sing, "It is well with my soul", it is a sign that we have peace with God. You can't put a price on peace, especially peace with your maker. I really feel sorry for people who don't have peace with God. People whose soul knows no rest.
Are you carrying any heavy burdens today? Why don't you give them to Jesus?
Are you living in Jesus' easy yoke, or are you fighting him and living with the hard yoke of your stubbornness? Following Jesus isn't always easy but it always ends up in a place of peace and rest both how and into eternity!
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