Jesus was constantly proclaiming He was the promised Messiah – the One from God who is God and walked among us fully human.
John the Baptist was experiencing the persecution Jesus promised His followers and it made him doubt Jesus.
None of us are promised life without hardships in this broken world. But if we trust Him, He will guide us through those difficult times and even bring good out of those hard experiences.
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Matthew 11 Video:
Matthew 11 Notes:
Have you ever heard someone say that Jesus never claimed to be God? That this idea of Jesus being fully God and fully human was added by Christians way later?
Jesus was constantly claiming He was the promised Messiah – the One from God who is God and walked among us fully human.
Every time Jesus used the phrase “Son of Man” he was referencing the prophecy from Daniel 7 of the human who would reign alongside God. He even referred to his cousin John the Baptist as the fulfillment of the prophecy that one like Elijah would come preparing the way for the Messiah. Jesus also referred to how you cannot know the Father without knowing the Son. They are one and the same.
The people hearing Jesus speak knew He was announcing He is the Messiah, We know that because of their responses! Some believed and some sought to kill Him.
Now John the Baptist is having doubts because he is in jail. Ever felt like because of your faith you deserved God’s blessings and protection? John the Baptist was experiencing the persecution Jesus promised His followers and it made him doubt Jesus.
A longtime friend of mine mentioned how for years He thought believing in Jesus meant that if we acknowledged the facts of Christianity then only good things would happen to him. Instead he’s realized that Jesus never promises that. Instead following Jesus means living for Him and His kingdom and that following Him may lead to difficult times but that He will be with us through whatever we face.
None of us are promised life without hardships in this broken world. But if we trust Him, He will guide us through those difficult times and even bring good out of those hard experiences.
Jesus promises – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
Some people see miracles and still don’t follow him.
Some believe the facts about Jesus so they can have a better life but fall away when things get hard.
Those who truly believe have a relationship with God that brings rest to their souls in spite of the chaos of this broken world – which Jesus will one day make things right.
We have to ask ourselves: which type of person have I been?
And who do I want to be?
How can we apply what we read to our lives today?
