Rejected Opportunities
"Then began He to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto you, Chorazin! woe unto you, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you." (Matthew 11:20-22)
Similar language followed concerning Capernaum, in comparison with Sodom. Of those cities where the most wonderful works of Jesus were done, nothing remains but the name.
Plants that have been cultivated, and then left to themselves, are in a much worse condition than those that have never been cultivated. So the parts of the earth where the greatest light of the Gospel shown in past ages, are now the most benighted. "If the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness!" (Matthew 6:23) "But why were there not mighty works done in Tyre and Sidon and Sodom? why were they not given a chance as Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum?"
This is a question that very naturally arises. It would seem as if it can be answered only by reading why Jesus did not perform many miracles in Nazareth: "And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." (Matthew 13:58)
God leaves no one to perish through any fault of His. All that can be done, He does for all. He has not left himself without witness in any nation. "Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He left not himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." (Acts 14:16-17)
There is not a spot under heaven where God's heavenly messengers--the sun, moon and stars--have not proclaimed the Gospel. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shows knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their wordsto the end of the world." (Psalm 19:1-4) "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah said, Lord, who has believed our report? So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world." (Romans 10:15-18)
To everyone is given the light to enable him to be saved. In some places it is possible to do more work than in others; yet the seemingly less favored places cannot complain that they are discriminated against, since they do not appreciate and use the light they have. They have only themselves to blame if the mighty works which would be convincing are not done in them, because their own unbelief has shut those works out.
The man who refuses to receive instruction is as culpable as the man who receives it and turns away from it. God is just, and every tongue will swear to it in the Judgment. "Look unto me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to Him shall men come; and all that are incensed against Him shall be ashamed." (Isaiah 45:22-24)
No tongue can be lifted against Him in the Judgment: "No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, says the Lord." (Isaiah 54:17)
But every mouth will be stopped: "Now we know that what things soever the law says, it says to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." (Romans 3:19)
Knowledge of God
"At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in your sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father; and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him." (Matthew 11:25-27)
What! thankful that the Gospel has been hid from some? Yes, since the hiding of it from them, is the revelation of it to babes. That is indeed a most wonderful way of hiding the Gospel, namely, to make it so plain and simple that even babes can understand it. Surely no "wise and prudent" man will ever have the face to accuse God of impartiality on that ground.
Fancy a wise man who has "not been able to see the evidence for the truth of the Gospel," coming to the Lord, and saying, "You have hidden these things from me, and have revealed them only to little children; and it is not fair!" "Ah, but how does it happen that they are revealed to babes? how is it possible for them to understand these deep things?"
The only reply can be, "Because you have made them so simple."
And then the report would come, "And do you, who boast of your wisdom, mean to say that you could not comprehend a thing that was so easy that a child could grasp it?"
The wise man would be at a loss for a reply, would he not? "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ... God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise." (1 Corinthians 1:20,27)
Little children recognized the Messiahship of Christ, when doctors of the law saw nothing but an uproar. "And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, And said unto Him, Do you hear what these say? And Jesus said unto them, Yea; have you never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings you have perfected praise?" (Matthew 21:15-16) "Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3)
Thank the Lord, that He has made the way so very easy and simple that a child can know it. No one need err unless he is wise in his own conceits, and despises the truth because it is so plain. Yes, truly we may well join with Christ in thanks to the Almighty Father.
We sometimes hear about people who believe in God, but cannot accept Christ; that is, they believe in God, but are not Christians. We hear of them, indeed, but we never see them; for there are no such folks in existence. "No man knows the Father save the Son, and he to whom the Son reveals Him." (Matthew 11:27)
It is impossible to know who God is, to say nothing of believing on Him, except through Christ. "No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." (John 1:18)
Christ is the revelation of God to man. "If you had known me, you should have known my Father also: and from henceforth you know Him, and have seen Him. Philip said unto Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it suffices us. Jesus said unto him, Have I been so long time with you, andyet have you not known me, Philip? he that has seen me has seen the Father; and how say you then, Show us the Father?" (John 14:7-9)
His name is: "God with us." (Matthew 1:23) "In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:9)
Whoever knows and worships the one true God, in spirit and in truth, is a Christian.
The Easy Burden
Who that reads the Bible is not familiar with the gracious invitation in: "Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
Christ gives rest, because in Him God's work is complete, and finished work well done brings rest. Our labors weary us, and wear us out, since they are never done; they are always imperfect. Our best work is sin. "All our righteousness are as filthy rags." (Isaiah 64:6)
But in Christ everything was created: "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." (Colossians 1:16-17)
And when it was all finished, "God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good." (Genesis 1:31)
The eye of God could see no chance for improvement. And as the works were thus "finished from the foundation of the world," (Hebrews 4:3) so the rest was then prepared; and the proof of it is found in the fact that: "God did rest the seventh day from all His works." (Hebrews 4:3)
Christ is the Creator and therefore the Redeemer, since redemption is creation: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10) "And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:24)
And since the Sabbath is the sign and seal of perfect creation, it is in Christ that we find the Sabbath indeed, God's rest, which is the seventh day. Sabbath means rest. "Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them." (Ezekiel 20:12)
It is by the Sabbath that we know God. But we have just read that it is only in Christ that we can know God. So we see that the Sabbath is in Christ, and Christ is in the Sabbath. He is the Word, by which everything was created and upheld, and so He calls us to Him to find the Sabbath, namely, rest on the eternal Word.
What assurance have we that in Him we shall find rest? This, that His burden is light. What is His burden? "The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6) "[He] bears the sins of the world." (John 1:29,margin)
How many sins does He bear? "The sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2)
And how does He bear them? Easily. It is true, they nailed Him to the cross, and laid Him in the tomb; but, "[He] endured the cross," (Hebrews 12:2) and lives in spite of "the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be held of it." (Acts 2:24)
All the sins of the world cannot crush Him. Why? Because He destroys them. Although He has the sins of the whole world on Him, you may look at Him ever so closely, and you will not see a single sin. The longer you look, the more righteousness you will see, but never a trace of sin. With all that load of sin on Him, He enjoys everlasting rest and peace; "For He is our peace." (Ephesians 2:14)
Well, then, He is certainly the one to come to, for I cannot endure the burden of my own sins. Although I have only my own sins to bear, the weight is greater than the whole world. I am heavy laden, and can find no rest because of my sins. "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt." (Isaiah 57:20)
They crush me. But Jesus bears them, too, and since He finds the burden so light, I will let Him bear them all alone, and I will rest in Him.
The rest is waiting; why not enjoy it? Who will not say to the Lord,
Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into your freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of my sickness into Thy health,
Out of my want, and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin, and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
--William T. Sleeper, Jesus, I Come, 1887.
--Present Truth, February 10, 1898--Timeline: IV-32 (Jesus' Eulogy of John)--Matthew 11:20-27.