Bible Study:
Isaiah 41, 13 to 20. Matthew 11, 11 to 15.
In yesterday’s
Gospel passage, we heard Jesus saying to us: “… learn from me; for I am GENTLE and
HUMBLE IN HEART, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11, 29. Today,
he is saying to us “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of
heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.” Matthew 11, 12.
Doesn’t this sound like a contradiction? Can we be gentle, humble and violent
at the same time? What exactly does Jesus mean when he speaks of John the
Baptist in this light?
If there
is anything that characterised and summarized the life of John the Baptist, it
was his FEARLESSNESS. John the Baptist was never afraid of anything and
anybody. He was bold at all times and willing to speak the truth without caring
who is who. He so spoke the truth that at some point, his sounds sounded like
plain insults. Imagine him calling he Pharisees and Sadducees a brood of vipers.
In Matthew 3, 7 to 10 we read: But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees
coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you
to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume
to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is
able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is
lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good
fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
The fearlessness
of John the Baptist was not confirmed to the desert where he preached and
baptised like some who are only bold when they are at home but suddenly become
timid when they are in the midst of persons who they should tell the truth. His
fearlessness extended to the household of the very ruler of the town. In Mark
6, 17 to 20, we read: “For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound
him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because
Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful
for you to have your brother's wife." And Herodias had a grudge against
him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing
that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him,
he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.”
Because
John was absolutely fearless, Jesus referred to him as one who was violent for
the kingdom of God and Jesus called John the Baptist, the Elijah that was to
come. Note that this same fearlessness displayed by John the Baptist was also in
the prophet Elijah as he too was not afraid to confront king Ahab with the
truth. In 1st Kings 18, 17 to 18, we read: “When Ahab saw Elijah,
Ahab said to him, "Is it you, you troubler of Israel?" He answered,
"I have not troubled Israel; but you have, and your father's house,
because you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals.”
Dear
friends, being gentle and humble in heart does not mean that we should become
timid. And woe betide him or her who is timid with the truth! Such a person is
not fit for the kingdom of God. The prophet Isaiah in our first reading today
tells us we have no reason to fear because we serve a God who is there for us,
a God who can do the impossible, a God who will never forsake us.
As he
says: “For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you,
"DO NOT FEAR, I WILL HELP YOU."
Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you insect Israel! I will help you, says
the LORD; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. Now, I will make of you a
threshing sledge, sharp, new, and having teeth; you shall thresh the mountains
and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff. You shall winnow them
and the wind shall carry them away, and the tempest shall scatter them. Then
you shall rejoice in the LORD; in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory. When
the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched
with thirst, I the LORD will answer them, I THE GOD OF ISRAEL WILL NOT FORSAKE
THEM. Isaiah 41, 13 to 17.
Do not be afraid
child of God. In your gentleness and humility, never be afraid of speaking the
truth. Timidity is not the same thing as humility. Neither is speaking the
truth a sign of pride or arrogance.
Let us
Pray:
Lord
Jesus, give me a bold heart, a heart courageous enough to speak the truth and
like a threshing sledge, may I crush the mountains of lies, injustice and
immorality that abound in the world today. Amen.
Good morning.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you.
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