PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 11

What do you sense Jesus saying to you in this passage?

“Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” (Matthew 11:4)
John wants to know if Jesus is really God’s messiah.
Jesus tells John to look at his actions – does this sound like God?
Helping the blind and the lame, raising the dead, bringing hope to the poor?
The Jews knew that God’s character was goodness and compassion.
This was the Name of their God (Exodus 34:6-7), what God was like.
Jesus’s actions should have been evidence enough that he was God’s messiah.
My question is this: why would people reject someone like this?
Why would people accuse him of working for Satan, and want to kill him?
The reason… because their character, their actions were NOT like God.
The religious leaders judged and looked down on those they considered sinners.
They were proud and selfish, not humble and helpful, not kind and merciful.
The irony is, they thought they were honouring God by criticizing Jesus.
In fact, stumbling over Jesus’s kindness kept them from God’s blessing.
Jesus is still gracious and good to sinners like me – does that bother me?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, you are extremely good and gracious, even to those who I think don’t deserve it. How can this be a problem for me, when I don’t deserve it either? Help me to embrace your generous goodness for me, for all!