How Bad Do You Want It?
“If you won’t listen to me, maybe someone else can get through to you!” These are words that we might have heard when we were going the wrong way and refused to listen to wise advice. We have all been stubborn or hardheaded at some point in our lives. The hope of the one giving the advice is that we might turn around before it’s too late. In Matthew 11:7-15, 20-25, Jesus explained that John the Baptist had been sent by God to call people into repentance and prepare the way for the Messiah and salvation. And although John was the greatest of prophets because of his assignment, he was lesser than any who would hear the good news and enter the kingdom of heaven. John’s approach was austere and direct, while Jesus’ approach was to walk among the people teaching and performing miracles. Regardless of the approach, Israel refused to hear and rejected God‘s message. So Jesus rejected and condemned those who rejected Him in those Galilean cities where he performed most of his miracles. I pray that we would not only hear, but we would heed God‘s call in our lives. For if we are in Christ, there is now no condemnation (Rom. 8:1). Amen.
As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then 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:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’ (Matt. 11:7-10)
While John the Baptist had doubts about whether Jesus was indeed the Messiah, Jesus erased all doubts about John when speaking to the crowd. Jesus showed high regard for John because John had been chosen and sent on a special mission by God. His mission was to prepare the way in Israel to receive the Messiah. And John was dedicated to the fulfillment of his mission. He was neither swayed by public opinion (not a reed blowing in the wind), nor was he distracted by those in power (living in palaces). He was greater than any prophet before him because while they prophesied that the Messiah was coming, he had the privilege of calling Israel to repent now because the Messiah is here.
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. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Whoever has ears, let them hear. (Matt. 11:11-15)
As much praise as Jesus had for John, His message was that those who entered the kingdom of heaven would be even greater. John was sent by God to turn the hearts and minds of Israel back to Him (as prophesied in Malachi 4:5). Those who were willing to hear and accept God’s invitation to turn back to Him would be blessed with salvation and not be subject to God’s wrath.
Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. “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. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 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. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” (Matt. 11:20-24)
After dedicated time teaching and performing miracles to compel people to repent and embrace faith, there were still many in the area of Galilee who rejected Jesus’ message. They had rejected both John’s or Jesus’ appeal to repent and be saved. As a result, Jesus pronounced a condemnation (woe) on the Galilean cities where He had performed most of His miracles. He lamented their lack of responsiveness and contrasted their response with the repentance that Gentiles (Sidon, Tyre and even Sodom) would have shown had they witnessed the same miracles.
The truth is, that God has tried in many ways and through many people to get those He created and loves to come back to Him. Ultimately, God sent his son Jesus to walk among us and show us the Father’s love, mercy and will for us. Yet there are still some who refuse and reject Him and His offer of salvation. Jesus let the people know that they had no excuse, they rejected John’s approach and rejected His approach too. So they were condemned because of their rejection. Today in pulpits across the world, God has many voices inviting people to faith and salvation in Jesus. Whatever language, ethnicity, nationality you are, God has sent someone to present the gospel in a way that people can digest it and choose Him. But at the end of the day there’s only two options for each of us to choose from. You either want to spend eternity with Him in His love, or you want to spend eternity in His wrath. Rejecting Jesus demonstrates a desire to choose what the world has to offer over the salvation He offers. Choosing the world has eternal consequences, and the simple question is this.… how bad do you want it?
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
