Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matt 11:28 (NIV)
In chapter 11, Matthew writes about the time when John the Baptist was in prison and sent for Jesus asking “are you the one? Or should I look for another?”
I have judged John for this moment for as long as I can remember. I’ve thought, “How can he ask that? He baptised with Jesus, he was there when God spoke from heaven and the dove alighted on Jesus… he knew, he saw, he experienced!” I just didn’t get why he would ask such a question!
And to a point, I still don’t… We are told so little about John and his life through the scriptures. Assumptions about him are all too easy and the answers were buried with him long ago.
Have you ever questioned something you used to be so sure of?
I have.
I grew up being so sure, certain, black and white to the point of glittering self-righteousness. Back then, I called it faith but now I’m pretty sure it was pride. (Faith is not the absence of uncertainty…). Pride kept me from learning, searching and asking. It caused me to cast a blind eye at everyday miracles and walk over the seemingly unimportant people and circumstances around me.
After John asked his strange question, Jesus went on to say that John was the greatest prophet the world would ever know.
His question was not rebuked?
His question was not rebuked.
Jesus then talks about how some of the towns and people he had met and talked to and performed miracles in front of still didn’t believe. And that the wicked, broken and tumultuous cities and era’s of times gone by would have believed in him in a heartbeat if they had witnessed what this day and age were seeing.
There’s something about brokenness, doubt, frailty, the awareness of our humanity that makes room for God. The willingness to say “I’m weary, I’m weighed down… I need something more…” provides the platform of vulnerability that grace needs to stand up on.
Jesus says ‘Come to me…” Not those who are sure, not those who are perfect, not those who have it all together, not those who have no questions…
He calls the weary, the tired, the broken, the weighed down, the uncertain. Because in that space of pride absent vulnerability, of asking, seeking and knocking, Jesus can do his most sacred work.
I’m so glad John asked his question.
“Are you tired? Worn out? 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 won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (The Message.)
[vcex_image_grid columns=”3″ pagination=”false” thumbnail_link=”custom_link” link_title_tag=”true” custom_links_target=”_blank” overlay_style=”title-category-visible” columns_gap=”5″ img_hover_style=”fade-out” image_ids=”20934,20935,20937″ custom_links=”https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1239768002?pt=118656308&ct=blog%20footer&mt=8,https://www.pktfuel.com/dailyemail,https://www.pktfuel.com/support” img_height=”350″]