Jesus had come as the Messiah — God’s promised king for His people. He went from city to city to teach and to preach to the people. John the Baptist had been promised in the Book of Malachi to come before Jesus to announce His coming and to call the people to repentance. For being faithful to his responsibility, he was cast into prison. John was discouraged. He sent a message to Jesus asking Him if He really was the Messiah. Jesus told the messengers to give dear John a report of all the wonderful things that were being done by the Lord. Indeed He was the promised Messiah! Jesus gave John a huge compliment — there was not a “greater than John.”
John’s message was for the people to repent and receive their Messiah. They did not, and Jesus began to upbraid (reproach) the cities because they did not repent, even after John’s message and seeing the mighty works that Jesus did.
In spite of the rejection of both His words and His works, Jesus, the perfect man, accepts His rejection and thanks His Father for all things, saying, “I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth.” Do we always accept what almighty God brings into our lives and thank Him for it?
In spite of everything, He lived with perfect rest in His soul. To all who felt the burdens of life, Jesus invited, “Come unto Me, ... and I will give you rest.” If we come, He promises to share our burdens with us and says, “Learn of Me.” He teaches us to be “meek and lowly” in our hearts, like He is. If we learn to be meek instead of being proud, we find “rest” for our souls.
1. Who came to teach and preach to God’s people in Israel? __________ Matthew 11:___
2. Has there ever been a greater than John the Baptist? __________ Matthew 11:___
3. Jesus reproached those who had not __________. Matthew 11:___
4. Who invites you to come to Him and find rest? __________ Matthew 11:___
5. What does Jesus teach us to be so that we can have rest? __________ Matthew 11:___