Day 25

Chase: Hello and welcome to the Point Church Podcast. We're really glad you're here. Before we jump in, if you'd like to stay connected, you can download the Point Church app. It's a simple way to find messages, resource, and what's happening. And if this podcast is helpful, take a moment to like, subscribe, and share. You can find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Let's get into today's episode. Hello, everyone, and welcome back to the Point Church Podcast. I'm here with Pastor Sam. As we're working through the gospel of Matthew verse by verse for forty days, ⁓ forty podcast. And we had just left off, ⁓ or we just finished chapter ten and now we're diving into chapter eleven, ⁓ today. And so In verse one it reads When Jesus had finished giving instructions to his twelve disciples, he moved on from there to teach and preach in their in their towns. Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples and asked him, Are you the one who is to come? Or should we expect someone else? Yeah, so ⁓ Jesus seems to have sent them out because it says he moved on from there. So it seems to be speaking singular after sending the disciples out to go and ⁓ you know, reap the harvest. Yep. He's also now referred to as the Christ, which is another title by John. ⁓ and then you can honestly kind of read between lines that John is ⁓ struggling a little bit. He's in jail and he's asking, like, are you the Christ? Are you the one t to come? And ⁓ you know, he's in jail because ⁓ he spoke out against Herod. not the King Herod of Christmas, but his son. And he spoke out against him because he took his brother's wife to be his own. So he basically stole his sister in law to be his wife, and John spoke up about that and like, You're supposed to be the king of the Jews, why you acting this way? And therefore he's thrown in jail. Verse four it picks up, Jesus replied to him to them, Go and report to John what you hear and see. The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf heart the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, and blessed is the one who isn't offended by me. Yeah. A lot of the same thing he told the disciples like to go and do, but now he's like, Go tell John it's happening. Yeah. Yeah. In verse seven it picks up as these men were leaving, Jews began to speak to the crowds about John. What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? What then did you s go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See those who wear soft clothes are in royal places. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet, this is the one who about whom it is written, see, I am sending my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare a your way before you. Mm-hmm. So John is who Jesus is talking about clearly, and he's using, you know, ⁓ some certain ⁓ language to say, is John like a reed easily swayed by the wind? No, he's strong, he's durable. Was he a man in soft clothing? Well we know that's not true. ⁓ he's like he's not one in palaces, but he's out doing the work of preparing the way, which is a old testament prophecy from the prophet Malachi saying like one of the ways you'll know who the Messiah is, the Christ, the Savior, is there will be one who is preparing the way for him to come. It talks about every mountain made low and every valley raised up to prepare the road for this coming king to come into his kingdom. And that's what John's role is, preparing the way for Jesus. Yeah. Verse eleven, it says again, Jesus talking. Truly I tell you, among those born of a woman, of woman, no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared. But the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Let's let's pause there for a second, 'cause that's kind of a tough sentence, Rick. What so like John is great or he's not great. So what Jesus is saying is on his own John in the flesh is a like the most righteous person. Yeah. On his own. But anyone who is operating, who has accepted Christ, even the worst of sinners, if you have accepted Christ, you have this Holy Spirit in you, by comparison, the least in the kingdom of heaven is still greater than the greatest human. Mm-hmm. So again, that's where Jesus is saying, like Even tax collectors, if they're in me, are greater than John on his own, his own righteousness. Now, of course, we know that John is gonna be operating in the spirit of Christ and things like that. But he's like, This is the man who has maybe kept the Sermon on the Mount better than anybody. Yeah. But even those who've kept it the least, if they have me, are greater than the most righteous. Yeah. Yeah. Which is so good. and verse twelve From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering. Violence. The violent have been seizing it by force. Mm-hmm. So when he's saying that. Yeah, what's he talking about? Yeah. Yeah. So there's ⁓ I think it's the original King James Verse says the kingdom of heaven suffers violence in the violent, barred way. And what they're talking about, what Jesus is talking about is like those ⁓ who are pushing For the kingdom of heaven against even the headwinds of the world, all the resistance of the world. It's like we are seeing an influx of the people trying to get into the kingdom of heaven like never before. Think of it almost like ⁓ like Black Friday shopping. Yeah. Like you see those videos when like Best Buy would open their doors and everyone's just flooding to get in. Yeah. Like every man for themselves. Like, you know, that would be the you're almost violent on Best Buy. Mm-hmm. But you're flooding to get in. That's what Jesus is describing is this kind of idea. It's like people are like, it's here, and we're doing everything we can to get into it. And Jesus is saying, it's those who are pursuing it, it's those who are trying to live out the Sermon on the Mount, pursuing righteousness. Those are the violent. And the violent, those who are willing to do whatever it takes to throw off every shackle, pick up their cross, they will get the kingdom of heaven. So That's that's what he's describing. Perfect. And next verse it says, For all the prophets and the law prophesies until John. And if you're willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come. Let anyone who has ears listen. Yes, they believe that of ⁓ there was ⁓ Moses who represents the law and Elijah who represents the prophets. That's why they appear next to Jesus in the transfiguration, which we haven't got to yet. But those two are like representatives of the two parts of almost the old testament. Mm-hmm. And Elijah was prophesied to come back before, you know, this the Messiah. So he's like, This is Elijah. This is the spirit of Elijah on this man John the Baptist. So he has prepared the way. Again for me. He's just reiterating what he was saying. Perfect. ⁓ verse sixteen to what should I compare this generation? It's like children. Sitting in the marketplace who call out to other children. We played the flute for you, but you didn't dance. We sang a lament, but you didn't mourn. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, and they and and they say he has a demon. Mm-hmm. So ⁓ keep keep going ⁓ till the end, and then we'll we'll break it down. The Son of Man came eating, drinking, and they say Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners, yet wisdom is vindicated by their deeds. Mm-hmm. Yeah, by her yeah, by her deeds. So what Jesus is saying is like you people in many ways are so lukewarm. Yeah. You don't even know what you want. Like we played a flute for you and you didn't dance. Like, okay, if you don't like that, we'll play a sad song and you don't weep. You're just numb. on the inside. You're not receptive. You're not listening. There's nothing we can do right. Like John is about as much of a martyrdom lifestyle, like most like a harsh aesthetic. ⁓ like living out in the wilderness, camel hair, and you know, eating honey and locusts. And they're like, I don't think so. And then Jesus comes and he it's like a party with him. And they're like, nah, I don't think so either. And you're what do you want? Like is what she is saying. It's like you don't know what you want. You're you're you're fickle. And so that's that's what he's really trying. He's trying to shake them out. He's You don't you wouldn't know it if you basic if it came up and smacked you in the face. Like you wouldn't know what you wanted. You're just numb and you're lukewarm and I can't wake you up. Like is it's pretty powerful what Jesus is saying. Yeah. And why don't you read twenty through twenty two sure as you are on a roll here? Yeah. It says then he proceeded to denounce the towns where most of the miracles were done because they did not repent. Woe to you, Corusin. Woe to you, Beth Seda, for if the miracles that were done in you have been done in Tyre and Sidon, ⁓ Sidon, they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes long ago. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. So Jesus is like, I'm showing you signs and wonders. I'm showing you miracles. And you're still unconvinced. But if I were to go show those same signs and wonders to people, ⁓ because Tyrant Sidon was not a part of Israel. ⁓ you know, the outsiders, if you will. If I did the same thing with them, they'd believe I was God. But you people, again, will not listen. You will you don't know even what you're looking for. You're so caught up in, you know, basically being sons of Abraham that comes up at one point, or being, you know, this, that, and the other, or you've built up the Messiah to be in your mind than what the scriptures told you. And he's like, You're missing it. I'm right in front of you, and you're totally missing it. Like like you you can sense the frustration in Jesus. Very much so. And and he goes on in verse 23, ⁓ and you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No. You will go down to Hades. So it's a new word there, Hades. Yeah. So Hades is ⁓ you'd have to like do a word study on it. It's a hotly debated topic, but many believe Jesus not talking is the same thing as hell as a permanent place, but more of a temporary state, like more like the grave, like you're gonna experience destruction, spiritually, but also historically, and we do know that happens. Yeah. But like Jesus, like again, turn to me and avoid the destruction. That's like the entire old testament. Like, turn to me. And he's like, What are you doing? Like, I'm Doing this in your own backyard and you're still like, Nope, nope, nope, nope, don't need God, don't need this. And that's what Jesus is again trying to you you can sense again his anger but his heartbreak at the same time. Yeah. Cause he goes on for the miracle for if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been remained until today. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than. than for you. Yeah. Again, it's those who like Som and Gomorrah, the most wicked, you know, as we talked about earlier, they in many ways knew they were wicked. Yeah. That they would have because if you recognize you're wicked, you recognize holiness when you see it. Yeah. Because it's that obvious. Yeah. When you're lukewarm, you don't recognize it. No. Everything's kind of the same. Everything's kind of gray. And that's what Jesus is saying. He's like, going back to the demons. Yeah, he's like, you need to recognize who you are. And if you recognize who you are, you recognize who I am. And if you knew who you were, you'd recognize how much you need me. Which really is why Jesus leads into the next next part. Verse twenty five it says, And 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 infants. Yes, Father, because this was your good pleasure. So there he's saying It's just like he's again flipping everything. Like those who think they're wise in the world's standards are fools by the standards of God, but those who are foolish in the world's eyes are have wisdom of God. Like Paul picks upon this idea all the time in his ⁓ in his epistles. Yeah. And it says, All things have been entrusted to me by the Father. No one knows the Son except the Father. No one knows the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal him. Yeah. Again, Jesus is bringing us into the dynamic of it. ⁓ you can think of the word nose as not nose on your face, but K-N-O-W-S. No one knows the father except the son. No one knows the son except the father. In many ways, you can think of it as the intimacy, similar to what's described in Adam and Eve, like they knew each other. Yes. And not to say like it's it's just simply physical or sexual or whatever, but there's an intimacy, like an unspoken intimacy between Adam and Eve and between husband and wife that's meant to be a small reflection of what it's like to be to know God, like in that way. And that's what Jesus is saying. He's like, We have Created the world, perfect relationship, perfect harmony in all time, all things. And I've been sent here to reveal the Father to everyone. So if you know me, you know the Father. Like again, if you come to me, that's what just over and over. He's like, I'm trying to do something here. Yep, because he goes into that in verse twenty eight. Yep. Come to me, all who who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lonely and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Mm-hmm. This is ⁓ this is like a life verse for me. ⁓ just always been something where The this this promise is like saved me personally on many, many times, more times than I can probably count, because it's just the reminder that this this really reveals the heart of Jesus in many ways, is what I'm trying to say. Jesus comes off angry, Jesus comes off heartbroken, but what he is is like a parent pleading with their child to wake up. Please pay attention to me. Yeah. Like if ⁓ if your child was playing in the street. And a car's coming, you would be a bad parent if you're like, Hey, you should get out of the road. But a but a loving parent would be screaming at them, saying, like, get out of the road. Get out of the road. There's danger coming. And that's what Jesus is trying to say. It's like you you're you're so comfortable, you don't even know the danger all around you. And I'm here to wake you up. I'm here to wake you up. And he's like, Because I know the burden you carry. I know how the world has beaten you down. And it's so much easier to numb yourself, distract yourself, doom scroll your depression and anxiety and fear. And I know how easy it is to turn to drugs or alcohol or pornography or a relationship or a job or money. It's so easy to turn to any of those things for your answers, but it's not going to give you rest. Netflix and chill or a vacation or a better job is not going to soothe your soul. No. Maybe for a little bit. Maybe a week at best, but it's not gonna heal what's truly broken. The only way that these towns, these people and us are going to find rest is in him. And that promise has like held me together personally so many times to be like, okay, what I'm looking for can only be found in him. And i it had such an impact on me, and part of my story was struggling with. depression and anxiety and ⁓ maybe trigger warnings, some suicidal ideation, just the struggles with that. And I read this scripture in that season and it it it was like a light at the end of the tunnel. And so particularly the message version, I I've read it to our church many times, but ⁓ I love it so much. I actually have I have one tattoo and ⁓ I have the last ⁓ The last words tattooed on me just as a constant reminder of the promise of God. So this is what the message version of Jesus' promises. He says, Are you tired? Are you worn out? Are you burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me, and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me. Watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I will not lay anything heavy or ill fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. It's just so beautiful because all of us are looking for how to live freely and lightly. And maybe we think it's just for the elite, it's just for those with good jobs or high education or happy marriages or healthy children. And Jesus says it's none of those things. It's just me. Just be in my presence is what he's trying to do. That's what he's waking us up for. To wake up from our distractions and our numbing to know him. And so I it's an emotional scene. It's a pleading heart of the Savior saying, Wake up and come to me. So ⁓ that that's really the summary of Matthew eleven. There we go. And with that we will see you tomorrow. Thanks for tuning in.