11:1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their towns.

 

Although Christ had sent his apostles out to preach, he did not refrain from going to preach himself. In the local church situation, there would be little point in the Lord sending new workers to us if the result were that existing workers ceased their work!

 

11:2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds Christ had done, he sent his disciples to ask a question:

 

John the baptist had been arrested quite near to the commencement of Jesus' ministry, and so perhaps had seen and heard only little of his work before his imprisonment. John's discilpes often visited him in prison, and brought him news of what Christ was doing. In the darkness of his cell, facing a violent death, John di dnot so much waver in his faith (see verse 7), as in his courage, but the effects can be similar.

 

11:3 "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?"

 

John needed reassurance concering his own life and minsitry.  He had been sent to prepare the way of the Lord (John 1:23) and had publicly testified that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God (John 1:34). Now the glorious times when multitudes gathered for his baptism had gone, replaced by troubles and suffering.

 

All involved in Christian ministry for any length of time will expereince a dark night of the soul similar to that which John did here. Doubts and questions arise concering our life and minsitry; we may feel that nothing has been accomplished, and that our life has lacked any real significance.

 

The answer of Jesus to John's disilpies is sufficient to inspire us with renewed faith and courage to persevere (1 Cor. 16:13).

 

11:4-6  Jesus answered them, "Go tell John what you hear and see: The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them. Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."

 

At first reading it may not appear that Christ gave John any specific word relevant to his life and ministry. But in fact Christ reveal to John that his ministyr had been fulfilled. The object of hi service had ben realised. Hislife and minsitry were actually, from God's viewpoint, a complete success. John had been sent to preapre the way for the minsitry of Jesus, and that ministry had now commenced, which fact the dicilpes of Joh nare told to reprot to him. John had declared Christ to be the son of God, and through His mighty works, God himself was now giving witness to that same fact. The poor flocke to hear the gsopel. John's life and ministry were not for nothing, but rather they were nothign by themselevs. Joh nneeded to see ihs minsitry as being part of the wider and greater work of Christ on earth.

 

This is the meanign behind Jesus words: "blessed is he who is not offended in me." John would be blessed if he considred the work of Christ to be of supreme importance; more important than than his own personal success. Only when our lives are completely taken up with Christ and lived for Christ will the yfind their true meaning (Matt. 10:39).

The aposlte Paul suffered a similar dark nights of the soul, but was reassured concering the significanae of his service for Christ, and said:(Act 20:24)  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

 

11:7 While they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

 

It was not to John or his discilpes but to the general public that Jesus gave his testimony approving John's life and ministry. He afffirms that he was a man not easily shaken in his faith or dedication to God by opposition or the threat of death which hung over him.

 

11:8 What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look, those who wear fancy clothes are in the homes of kings!

 

John's clothes were of camels hair, and he lived in the wilderness, living on locusts and wild honey in a manner similar to Elijah. He was no stranger to hardship and difficulty fo rthe sake of Chrit all his life. He was no fop at the Kings court, but a seasoned warrior of Jesus Christ.

 

11:9-10 What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: 'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'

 

Jesus affrims John's calling to be more than a prophet as a messenger of the Lord who preapres the way for the people to receive God's only begotten son. No prophet before him had received such an honour.

 

11:11 "I tell you the truth, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.

 

Because of the honour placed on him, John should be considered as the most exalted of mortal men. Indeed, even being allowed to carry Jesus'; sandals would have made him highly honoured, even though he considred himself unworthy to do so (Mat.3:11). Yet every born again believer has an even greater privelege, for we are not merely preparing the way for the Lord, we have him dwelling within us, and are his representavies witnessing for him in the world, and ministering to the church which is his body.

 

11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and forceful people lay hold of it.

 

From the time John came to announce the coming of Christ, to the moment of Christ spoke these words, the kingdom of heaven had been proclaimed so that men and women might press their way into it. It "suffers violence", in that one does not need a further personal invitation to enter. Since the invitation is to all, it is left for those who truly wish to enter to press in with all their might, seeking the blessings of forgiveness and salvation, as being the most important blessing they can have - which they are.

 

11:13-15 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John appeared.  And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, who is to come.  The one who has ears had better listen!

 

Christ announces that the end of the Old Covenant was with Malachi. John's appearacne heralded the bringing in of a New Covenant by Christ; and as had been predicted by Malachi, a prophet would come in the spirit and power of Elijah to herald the appearance of the Lord. Those with hearts willing to listen and to be instructed by Christ would understand that this prophecy had been fulfilled by te hministry of John the Baptist.

 

11:16-17 "To what should I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to one another, 'We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance;  we wailed in mourning, yet you did not weep.'

 

There was simply no pleasing these people! They had hardened their hearts and refused to listen. Jesus compares them to a group of sulky and awkward children who did not want to play what the others were playing. 

 

11:18-19 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon!' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."

 

In the manner of Old Testamnet prophets (by which they should have recognised him as being from God), John came like one under the vow of a Nazarite, seperated to God, and yet was accused of being mad or demon possessed. When Jesus came in an enitrely different manner they rejected him also, accusing him of being over indulgent, and of cohorting with sinners. They would not listen to God's word no matter how it was presented to them In our modern day there is a temptation to think that becasue men and women have not responded to the gospel when it has been presented to them in a certain way, that they might accept it when presented it in a different way. Some are actually shying away from preaching, for they think that thje gospel will be found more palatable if it is rapped or presented in some other "more accessible" format. Whilst there is nothing wrong with presenting the gospel in a host of new ways, the sad fact remains that if the gospel is not responded to, it will make no difference how we present it. Nothign will alter this by our living differently, dressing diffrerently, or outreaching differetnl. It is the gospel people are rejecting, not the manner of the preacher or the method of presentation. Choose whatever method of presentation yo ulike, the eternal result will be the same.

 

11:20 Then Jesus began to criticize openly the cities in which he had done many of his miracles, because they did not repent.

 

The rejection of the gospel would bring certain fearful consequences (Heb 2:3). Even though Christ had preached and confirmed his word with miraculous signs in many local cities, they had not repented. The yhad failed to respond and receive the gospel of Christ. The word "criticize" used in the NET Bible (above) is slightly misleading. Jesus is pronouncing judgment on these towns, as can be seen from the following verses.

 

11:21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

 

The unrepentance of the Jewish towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida was inexcusable in view of the fact that so many miracles had been done there. If they had been done in the foreign citiies of Tyre and Sidon, Jesus says that they would have repented immediately and deeply. These Jews had been priveleged to know the law, of God and even more priveleged to see and hear Christ in person, but still they did not respond. Judgment will be according to their privelege. Those who reecive more light, yet reject it, will be held to accoun tto a greater etent than those who had less light.

 

11:22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you!

 

Although judgemtn would still fall on the unrepentant in those foreign cities, their guilt would not be as great, and so their punishment would be more bearable. NB This is one of only a few verses which seems to advance the view that there will be a variance in the degrees of punishment meted out upon unbelievers.

 

11:23-24 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be thrown down to Hades! For if the miracles done among you had been done in Sodom, it would have continued to this day. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you!"

 

In a similar maner, Capernaum had been exalted to heaven by the meaure of the revelation they had ben given by Christ concernign himself through his teachigns and miracles among them. The whole city had come to Jesus, and he had healed ALL the sick in that town (Matt. 8:16). Yet even this was insufficient to bring the hardened hearts of the people to repentance. In God's sight, this sin was more serious than that of Sodom and Gomorrah, who, if they had received such revelation, would have repented and been spared of the fire which consumed them. Whatever else these verses teach us, they teach us that the most serious sin of all is the rejection of Jesus Christ, for it is the rejection of Christ that results in unbelievers going to hell (John 3:36).

 

11:25-26 At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your gracious will.

 

According to Luke (Luke 10:17-21), Jesus made this statement sometime after the sending out and return of both his 12 aposltes and his 70 evangelists, who reported to him concering their preachinga and the miracle sthey had seen. They had gone forth in simple faith, trusting Jesus as a child trusts his mother or father.

 

It is not to through human wisdom or intelligence that God reveals himself to man, but through the revelation of faith 1 Cor. 1:26-27. It is the will of God our Father that it should be so, for he would leave none out of his gracious plan. Men who refuse to accept God's wisdom in favour of their own are exlcduing themslevesf rom receving God's grace.

11:27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son decides to reveal him.

 

All the authoiryt of God, especially with regard to responsibility for the salvation of mankind, had been handed over to Jesus Christ. In his eternal generation, all things that are God and are of God are His and the Fatehr and son are mutually dependent. It takes a divine being to know a divine being fully, hence Christ announces that only the son knows the fatehr andonly the fatehr knows the son. Yet, folowing on from the revelation spokemn of in verse 25, we see that God the fatehr is at this time pleased to reveal his son to men ,and that Jesus Christ we may know God here and in fuller measure hereafter. Again the words of Christ make clear that it is only by divine revelation that one can know God.

 

11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

 

Although some may have rejected Hod's purpose for themselves, the way remains wide open for them. With this invitation, Jesus reveals the way to come to God. It is through him. "Come to me" is his invitation to "all", for all are weary of life and burdened with sin and the troubles it brings. The rest Christ offers is the rest of the family home. The man at war with God has no rest, but when reconciled he enjoys peace and acceptance as one of the family (Rom. 5:1).  The guilty man has no rest for his conscience, he is living under a heavy burden of sin. When we coem to Christ we find that he has lifted our heavy load from us as we find forgiveness, cleansing and the peace which a clensed conscinec brings (Heb. 9:14). The man without God has no rest when it comes to facing death, but by cming to Christwe receive an eternal hope of everlasting life and a home in heaven.

 

11:29-30 Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry."

 

In addition to the rest given when we initially come toChrist, there is a daily rest of following Christ. I might refer to this as the geepenign peace which spiriutal maturity brings. The yoke was placed over two oxen so that they could share the load nad pull the plow togetehr in the same direction. Usually a younger ox would be yoked to an older, well bhanved ox, from whom he would learn to copy.  Thisis the picture Christ gives here, as we learn from him and walk in his ways, we shall find the pat hof peace and blessing. Some young oxen smart at the yoke, and it is difficult for them to submit to it. But when they do, theyare quiet and obedient. The animals are tame and quiet for they have been broekn in.

Our meek and gentle Jesus has such great patience with us as we learn to carry the cross-yoke. Dying to our own self will and living for God's will may be a crucifying experience, but when we are supported in our struggles by our Saviour, and we find his strength sufficient, making the cross easy to bear - with He who has born our girefs and carried our sorrows carrying the heavier end for us.

 

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