WATCHWORD:
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.”
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. 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.” Matthew 11:20-24
Meditation:
A Miracle? Eh, it’s Science!
In the span of our lives we’ve had opportunities to marvel at, even celebrate circumstances that favored us. Maybe we’re really sick and we found medication that cured us that very next day. Thank you medicine. Or perhaps you were going to a concert and finding a place to park was absolutely impossible, until a parking spot opened up. And you think, lucky me. Maybe there are other events and happenings that you chalked up to coincidence, or lucky me, or maybe in one of those rare occasions you said, thank you, Lord.
There are times when you want to dig deeply into a circumstance and find out why it happened. Maybe you Google something online and get an explanation from a scientific viewpoint. Ask yourself, why do I do that? Is it to gain knowledge, or is it to avoid another option, that our Lord is working with us, whatever endeavor we’re involved in? Why are we sometimes hesitant to give God credit?
In the Matthew reading you can sense the frustration in our Lord and savior as he considered the lack of repentance and thankfulness among the people with whom he performed miracles. He even pointed out their hypocrisy by making the comparison between John, who neither ate nor drank and was considered having a demon, and Jesus who did both and was called a glutton and a drunkard.
But then Jesus declared judgment upon those people who were favored with outright miracles and yet refused to repent from their evil behaviors. He was especially frustrated with Capernaum, his hometown, his base of operations for his ministry. It was there that Jesus drew crowds with his teaching, where he healed the daughter of Jairus, the synagogue official, where he called his disciples and where Jesus did His most extensive teaching in the sermon on the mount, and where there was no repentance.
Our Lord does not want burnt offerings, and great sacrifices, he only wants change from our evil ways, an attitude of gratitude in the form of repentance. It’s as simple as taking the Lord’s teaching about love seriously and applying it day in and day out, where it ‘flavors’ our lives. That is what causes rejoicing in our future home. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
Prayer of Repentance:
Heavenly father, I have followed You with reluctance and have often complained. I repent. I gladly yield to You and Your invitations in my life. Holy Spirit, help me to learn the ways of God. My desire is to walk in holiness and godliness. Redeem the days I have wasted and lead me to righteous paths. I want to live in a way that brings honor to Jesus as my Lord and King. In Jesus name, amen. — Allen Jackson
