Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Matthew 11 and Psalm 11

If there’s a unifying theme to Matthew 11, it’s the many different ways people responded to Jesus.

John’s disciples come to Jesus filled with doubts and questions brought about by John’s suffering in Herod’s dungeon. Jesus answered them (and John) profoundly respectfully and gently; because He understands all our questioning and doubting during times of great difficulty.

Jesus also referred to the violent opposition with which some responded to the King and His Kingdom. Then He pointed to the slanderous aspersions people cast on both John and Him for completely opposite reasons. But His strongest reaction was reserved for the apathetic cities of Bethsaida, Chorazin and Capernaum had. They had responded to His wondrous, miraculous ministry with disinterest and disregard. They had been given so many reasons to respond to Him positively, with repentance from their sins and faith, but they had simply carried on with life as if He did not matter one little bit.

While some of those responses to Jesus were worse than others, the only correct response to Jesus is the one we find right at the end of the chapter: childlike faith! It’s the response of one who sees that it is impossible to lift ourselves up to God and that our only hope is in the Saviour whom God has sent to our rescue. It is to realise how heavily laden we are with our sins, and how weary we are from trying to improve ourselves, and so simply to cast ourselves on the mercy of Jesus, surrendering to Him and allowing Him to save us, lead us, teach us and empower us. May this be our response today.

²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Life Application: If you should come across someone today who is filled with doubts and questions, take the opportunity to be like Jesus. Treat them with respect, honour the sincerity of their questions and doubts, share the love and truth of Jesus with them to the best of your ability, and then invite them to come to Jesus with faith and find their peace in relationship with Him.