Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 (NRSV)
“But to what will I compare this generation?
It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,
'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not mourn.'
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."
At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Actions Speak Louder than Words
- or -
They Will Know We Follow Jesus by Our Deeds
“But to what will I compare this generation?!”
Jesus is frustrated. His ministry has led him into rough waters. The Pharisees and scribes are angry with his teachings and his progressive ministry of feeding the poor and dining with prostitutes and tax collectors. John the Baptist, who we haven't heard from since his arrest, has a great deal of time on his hands in prison. John - the one who was the forerunner, the one who prepared the way for Jesus with a career of preaching repentance - is beginning to wonder about Jesus. He sends his own disciples to make sure Jesus is the one for whom he was preparing the way. On top of all these issues, Jesus’ own disciples continue to demonstrate energy in following him, but they keep on falling short. They continue to plant their feet firmly in their own mouths - they are not always the sharpest tools in the shed. So yes, Jesus is frustrated.
All of these issues drive Jesus to exclaim “But to what will I compare this generation?!” His contemporaries do not seem to understand his ministry and his talk of the kingdom of heaven. They do not seem patient enough to understand the rhythm of his life. So they complain and plot against him. Jesus encounters fracturing of relationships and arguing on his journey.
Jesus recognizes their discomfort. He sees the scheming of the religious leaders. He hears the bickering and arguing - so he tells a little story. He tells of children in a marketplace, upset that no one will respond to their music of joy or mourning. Upset that no know will dance, or cry, or play along with their games. Jesus has seen this play out through the people. He has seen this behavior in the religious leaders, in the questioning of his ministry, and in his own disciples. There is division in the wake of his ministry. The world just doesn't seem to get what Jesus has come to do. So they argue.
John came preaching repentance and folks said he had a demon. Jesus dined with sinners and tax collects and was called a glutton and a drunkard. Those in power have had their expectations dashed. They were expecting someone from God, but they expected the one from God to play by their rules. Neither John nor Jesus fit the job description they had created. Neither John nor Jesus played by their rules. There was a division between the groups. The religious leaders, the powers, expected one thing - God delivered something quite different. There was grumbling and arguing over who was correct - who was right. And they all missed the point.
We know this kind of division. We know this grumbling. It’s all around us. The issue of immigration divides us. The supreme court decision in the Hobby Lobby case divides us. If we wade into the rough waters of the argument, we get lost by trying to choose sides. The division that Jesus spoke about two weeks ago becomes a reality. It’s republicans versus democrats. Fox News versus CNN. Congress versus the white house. States against the federal government. “Us” in the united states versus “them” of the immigrant. Neighbor against neighbor. Father against son. Mother against daughter. And all of it is done in the name of being correct. For some, it’s even in the name of Jesus. But the reality is that Jesus left the conversation a long time ago. The argument is about our own egos and being correct. We loose sight of the ones in need, the ones left out, the ones that Jesus has called us to help.
Jesus does not get drawn into the argument. He does not choose sides. He does not debate and try to win over the other side. He simply names the division that is going on and continues teaching. He knows that the debate will end with fractured relationships. Nobody will win in the end. It is through action, through reaching out and putting his hands on the needs of the world, that Jesus will live into his calling to bring the kingdom of heaven into the world. He knows that the witness of his life will not be in catchy slogans or won arguments. It will be in the flesh and blood, the tears and joy, and healing and feeding of those in need. His deeds - the way he lives his life - will be the witness of God’s presence in the world.
“Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds” - this is how Jesus responds to the arguing. And Matthew is quick to point it out. In Matthew’s Gospel - Jesus is wisdom. For Matthew, Jesus is a wisdom teacher who teaches in parables and proverbs. Jesus is connected to a very old movement. Wisdom is a movement that has been going on since the beginning. Wisdom moved with God at creation. Wisdom moved through the prophets. Wisdom was and is God’s will lived out in community with one another. And now wisdom has a heart beat and callused hands from helping those in need. Wisdom is incarnate in Jesus. The world will know God through the deeds of Jesus.
Wisdom is known by her deeds. Jesus - God’s wisdom incarnate, (God) is know by his deeds. The presence of the kingdom of heaven is made known through the deeds of Jesus. The disciples of every generation will be known as disciples of Jesus by their deeds - they will participate in the kingdom of heaven by living out the same rhythm of love and healing and relationships as Jesus. We will be known as disciples of Jesus Christ by bearing witness to God’s work in the world. God’s work of repentance, redemption, and salvation. Jesus has advice for those who are willing to stop the arguments and follow him.
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” The word “weary” can allude to being emotionally drained and discouraged. This is where the arguments get us - weary. No one wins, we just get worn out and disgusted at each other. The community breaks down. Jesus welcomes us who are weary of the static of the arguments into a way of life that has meaning. Jesus offers us rest from the vicious cycle of arguments through following him in a way of life that serves others.
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” Yoke is an agriculture metaphor. A yoke is a way of tethering horses or oxen or mules together in order to pull a heavy load. And the yoke Jesus has in mind is not a single one. We are yoked with Jesus. He is with us on the journey. When we walk with Jesus we learn the rhythm of his life- the rhythm of the kingdom of Heaven. The rhythm of God’s love for the world.
When Jesus asks us to learn from him, he not talking memorizing doctrine and having all the right answers to win the argument. He is not asking us to be students. He is asking us to be apprentices. To learn new skills for living in this world. He is drawing us into a way of life. Learn from me - watch what I do - and do likewise. Learn to pattern your lives after mine in a rhythm of healing and building relationships and loving one another. Jesus draws us into a life of humble service. Serving others as Jesus has first served us. It’s an active way of life. Which begins us back to the opening question.
“But to what will I compare this generation?!” To what will Jesus compare this generation? Will we get caught up in the arguing - or will we follow in the example of Jesus? Will we take on his yoke and learn from his ways of serving and loving? Jesus calls us into the later - the life of humble service. The cross is our example. The cross is where Jesus served all peoples - the whole world - where God’s love and power was demonstrated for all to experience.
We are a people of God’s creating. We are a people drawn into a way of life that does not get caught up in the arguments of this world. We are created to be so much more. God works through us. Empowering us to take on the yoke of Jesus and walk with him in the journey of discipleship. It’s not always easy. But we are not alone.
As we go out this week, into the midst of swirling arguments enough to make any of us weary, know that Christ goes with us. Know that his yoke is one of love and mercy. May we seek to take on this yoke, instead of tear each other down in vicious arguments. May we lift each other up and reach out to those in need. May God strengthen us as we witness to God’s kingdom.
Jesus is frustrated. His ministry has led him into rough waters. The Pharisees and scribes are angry with his teachings and his progressive ministry of feeding the poor and dining with prostitutes and tax collectors. John the Baptist, who we haven't heard from since his arrest, has a great deal of time on his hands in prison. John - the one who was the forerunner, the one who prepared the way for Jesus with a career of preaching repentance - is beginning to wonder about Jesus. He sends his own disciples to make sure Jesus is the one for whom he was preparing the way. On top of all these issues, Jesus’ own disciples continue to demonstrate energy in following him, but they keep on falling short. They continue to plant their feet firmly in their own mouths - they are not always the sharpest tools in the shed. So yes, Jesus is frustrated.
All of these issues drive Jesus to exclaim “But to what will I compare this generation?!” His contemporaries do not seem to understand his ministry and his talk of the kingdom of heaven. They do not seem patient enough to understand the rhythm of his life. So they complain and plot against him. Jesus encounters fracturing of relationships and arguing on his journey.
Jesus recognizes their discomfort. He sees the scheming of the religious leaders. He hears the bickering and arguing - so he tells a little story. He tells of children in a marketplace, upset that no one will respond to their music of joy or mourning. Upset that no know will dance, or cry, or play along with their games. Jesus has seen this play out through the people. He has seen this behavior in the religious leaders, in the questioning of his ministry, and in his own disciples. There is division in the wake of his ministry. The world just doesn't seem to get what Jesus has come to do. So they argue.
John came preaching repentance and folks said he had a demon. Jesus dined with sinners and tax collects and was called a glutton and a drunkard. Those in power have had their expectations dashed. They were expecting someone from God, but they expected the one from God to play by their rules. Neither John nor Jesus fit the job description they had created. Neither John nor Jesus played by their rules. There was a division between the groups. The religious leaders, the powers, expected one thing - God delivered something quite different. There was grumbling and arguing over who was correct - who was right. And they all missed the point.
We know this kind of division. We know this grumbling. It’s all around us. The issue of immigration divides us. The supreme court decision in the Hobby Lobby case divides us. If we wade into the rough waters of the argument, we get lost by trying to choose sides. The division that Jesus spoke about two weeks ago becomes a reality. It’s republicans versus democrats. Fox News versus CNN. Congress versus the white house. States against the federal government. “Us” in the united states versus “them” of the immigrant. Neighbor against neighbor. Father against son. Mother against daughter. And all of it is done in the name of being correct. For some, it’s even in the name of Jesus. But the reality is that Jesus left the conversation a long time ago. The argument is about our own egos and being correct. We loose sight of the ones in need, the ones left out, the ones that Jesus has called us to help.
Jesus does not get drawn into the argument. He does not choose sides. He does not debate and try to win over the other side. He simply names the division that is going on and continues teaching. He knows that the debate will end with fractured relationships. Nobody will win in the end. It is through action, through reaching out and putting his hands on the needs of the world, that Jesus will live into his calling to bring the kingdom of heaven into the world. He knows that the witness of his life will not be in catchy slogans or won arguments. It will be in the flesh and blood, the tears and joy, and healing and feeding of those in need. His deeds - the way he lives his life - will be the witness of God’s presence in the world.
“Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds” - this is how Jesus responds to the arguing. And Matthew is quick to point it out. In Matthew’s Gospel - Jesus is wisdom. For Matthew, Jesus is a wisdom teacher who teaches in parables and proverbs. Jesus is connected to a very old movement. Wisdom is a movement that has been going on since the beginning. Wisdom moved with God at creation. Wisdom moved through the prophets. Wisdom was and is God’s will lived out in community with one another. And now wisdom has a heart beat and callused hands from helping those in need. Wisdom is incarnate in Jesus. The world will know God through the deeds of Jesus.
Wisdom is known by her deeds. Jesus - God’s wisdom incarnate, (God) is know by his deeds. The presence of the kingdom of heaven is made known through the deeds of Jesus. The disciples of every generation will be known as disciples of Jesus by their deeds - they will participate in the kingdom of heaven by living out the same rhythm of love and healing and relationships as Jesus. We will be known as disciples of Jesus Christ by bearing witness to God’s work in the world. God’s work of repentance, redemption, and salvation. Jesus has advice for those who are willing to stop the arguments and follow him.
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” The word “weary” can allude to being emotionally drained and discouraged. This is where the arguments get us - weary. No one wins, we just get worn out and disgusted at each other. The community breaks down. Jesus welcomes us who are weary of the static of the arguments into a way of life that has meaning. Jesus offers us rest from the vicious cycle of arguments through following him in a way of life that serves others.
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” Yoke is an agriculture metaphor. A yoke is a way of tethering horses or oxen or mules together in order to pull a heavy load. And the yoke Jesus has in mind is not a single one. We are yoked with Jesus. He is with us on the journey. When we walk with Jesus we learn the rhythm of his life- the rhythm of the kingdom of Heaven. The rhythm of God’s love for the world.
When Jesus asks us to learn from him, he not talking memorizing doctrine and having all the right answers to win the argument. He is not asking us to be students. He is asking us to be apprentices. To learn new skills for living in this world. He is drawing us into a way of life. Learn from me - watch what I do - and do likewise. Learn to pattern your lives after mine in a rhythm of healing and building relationships and loving one another. Jesus draws us into a life of humble service. Serving others as Jesus has first served us. It’s an active way of life. Which begins us back to the opening question.
“But to what will I compare this generation?!” To what will Jesus compare this generation? Will we get caught up in the arguing - or will we follow in the example of Jesus? Will we take on his yoke and learn from his ways of serving and loving? Jesus calls us into the later - the life of humble service. The cross is our example. The cross is where Jesus served all peoples - the whole world - where God’s love and power was demonstrated for all to experience.
We are a people of God’s creating. We are a people drawn into a way of life that does not get caught up in the arguments of this world. We are created to be so much more. God works through us. Empowering us to take on the yoke of Jesus and walk with him in the journey of discipleship. It’s not always easy. But we are not alone.
As we go out this week, into the midst of swirling arguments enough to make any of us weary, know that Christ goes with us. Know that his yoke is one of love and mercy. May we seek to take on this yoke, instead of tear each other down in vicious arguments. May we lift each other up and reach out to those in need. May God strengthen us as we witness to God’s kingdom.
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