Introduction
In the scripture reading, Jesus curses three cities. Why?
1.Jesus who showed them evidence but did not believe
Jesus had cured someone who was blind and these revealed that Jesus was the Christ but still no one believed in him. Losing faith is the greatest sin we can commit, and disbelief is the biggest reason we fall in our walk of faith. All of the curses have been removed and we have been freed in Jesus Christ, but we live lives that are cursed like these cities. We can point fingers and laugh at these people but they are reflections of our own selves. The greatest miracle and blessing is coming to know and believe in Jesus, yet we always live in disbelief, blaming other people, setting our eyes on the now and the world. Let’s make a U-turn in the direction of our lives and turn them to the Lord. We bargain with God, saying that we’ll turn to God once we resolve our own problems, but God speaks to us, telling us he is with us through his word yet we ignore him.
Matthew 11:20 The Pharisees were so filled with pride that they couldn’t see Christ. They did not do anything necessarily inhumane or offensive but they refused to repent before God and so he cursed them.
2. Do you have true peace?
As children of God, one of the signs we experience when we receive salvation is true peace. There was a lot of war and captivity during this time in Israel, and in the midst of this, Jesus calls to the people, telling them to lay down their burdens and to find true rest in him. There were also the Pharisees, who were burdened by the law. We, too, have no choice but to carry the burden of sins, curses, and emptiness. People are unable to fill this emptiness with money or fame. People are enslaved to Satan and to the world but Jesus is calling out to us, the only solution and way to peace. Unlike the people in the city who depended on themselves, let’s depend on God and come to the conclusion that it truly is only Christ.
1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”
Verse 24-25 “But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgement than for you. At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”
3. Let’s enjoy the true rest in Christ
Not just rest once in a while, but rest every day. We can enjoy this rest when we hold on to the covenant that Jesus is the Christ, our perfect and complete solution to our lives. He is the true prophet and way to meet God. He is the true priest, who forgave us for our sins. He is the true king, who crushed the head of Satan. Even in the midst of the chaos of the world, Jesus is with us and his kingdom is upon us. We can enjoy this covenant by giving our confession of faith to God every day. When we give a genuine confession of love and faith to God with all our hearts, our lives have no other choice but to change.
John 1:12 “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith i n the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Verse 28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burden, 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.”
Conclusion
Limited concentration. We focus on so much in the world but we need to cast all those down before Jesus and concentrate on what is most important. Let’s concentrate on the word of God and his covenant. Ask ourselves, am I truly in Jesus?