Rest

 July 3, 2021

““But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying: ‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not lament.’ 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 winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”” —Matthew 11:16-19 

John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod, the ruthless and volatile ruler of Judea. It was Herod’s vendetta against John for daring to tell him the truth. Rotting away in a Roman jail was not John’s idea of how things would turn out, so he began to question whether or not Jesus was who he thought he was. He sent friends to Jesus with that very question, and got what most of us would consider a less than satisfactory answer. But after sending the messengers back to John, Jesus praised him before the crowds gathered around, and pronounced a curse upon the area cities and towns that in spite of miracles and solid preaching, refused to believe and repent. 

Jesus was essentially saying that the crowds are never satisfied, and if we expect the world to listen with rapturous attention to our message, we will be sorely disappointed, even as was John. It’s in the face of this seeming futility that Jesus calls us to himself:

“At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” —Matthew 11:25-30 

When all the doing is done and the world is still unchanged and unrepentant, the only thing left for us is to rest in Jesus. If we expect our accomplishments to satisfy our souls, they shall remain parched and dry. If we expect our efforts to have transformed the world, we will look back in disappointment. Only in Jesus can we find rest for our souls. Only he knows the Father and is able to reveal him to us. Accomplishments will fade away like the crowds that followed John until Herod threw him in prison. Not in my achievements, not in my successes, not in anything I’ve done will I discover meaning, contentment, and peace. Only by coming to Jesus will we find lasting rest for our restless souls.