Passage of the day - Matthew 11

Matthew 11 ¹⁶ “To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,

¹⁷ ‘We played wedding songs,
and you didn’t dance,
so we played funeral songs,
and you didn’t mourn.’

—-read chapter—-

Can you picture it?  Jesus talking in the temple courts or the town square. People of all walks of life crowded around to hear, to see, to experience this man of growing popularity. And in the midst of some complements of John the Baptist (a well known preacher who had recently had the misfortune of being thrown in prison) Jesus says, “Let me see…how can I describe the type of people who typically gather around me?” There, in the center of a crowd of people, each with their ears turned towards him, he compares them to a child who sits in public and complains about the fact that no one is paying attention to them or responding to their requests.  “I played my flute, but no one danced….Mommy, watch this, watch this!”

Why is it that we continually insist that Jesus respond to our “flute playing?”  Why do we seem to expect him to do the things we want? And I seem to get grumpy when things don’t go my way.

The next paragraph Jesus speaks harsh words of judgment and warning over towns of people who experienced amazing works, miracles, and teaching and yet still did not believe - and worse, rejected him.  That is the truth that seems so strange to believe.  You would think that if they saw Jesus doing these amazing miracles they would believe him. Instead, they only expected more and when he would not give them what they wanted - they rejected him.  Today, Jesus is at work. His activity hear has completely transformed our world, our artwork, our calendar…and look at where we are today…still not believing.

Perhaps the reason our world is tired and weary has little to do with the way we manage time or use technology or discover a perfect job. Maybe there is something to the way we respond to Jesus that can change and should change the way we interact with God and each other. At the end of the chapter Jesus extends one of his frequently quoted invitations: “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden. I will give you rest for your souls.” This is an invitation to those who need. He doesn’t say bring your resumes, your bank accounts, your accomplishments, your family values and activities - he says come all who are tired of working to prove themselves, to protect themselves, to preserve themselves because he wants to set your heart at ease.

Jesus isn’t calling us to come and beg  him to do what our wishes, desires, and flutes beckon him to do. He doesn’t even demand that we come to him proving our worth and our talent.  He extends a simple invitation to those who are keenly aware of their own inability and deep need for him.  Jesus is truly amazing. He came to sing us the song of freedom. He came to give his life and demonstrate his power. Lets stop spending our days saying, “Jesus do this, watch this, fix this, pay attention to me.”  May we believe that what he has already done here on this earth is the most significant act and attention he could ever offer us. Let us just come to him, receive his rest, his way of life, his salvation - day after day, until at last we enjoy him for all eternity.

Pray: Thanks God for the inviation to rest and experience salvation in Christ. Confess any of your self focused demands or expectations that you direct to Jesus. Ask him to help you experience his rest this week.