Matthew 11:20-30 ~ exalted to Heaven †

 

A Medieval Ring Proclaiming Jesus Christ Dwells Within, Not a Display

Matthew 11:20-30

Then Jesus began to denounce the cities where most of His Mighty Works had been done, because they did not repent. 

21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 

23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”


25 At that time Jesus declared, 

“I thank you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, 

that 

You have hidden these things from the wise and understanding 

and revealed them to little children

26 Yes, Father, for such was Your Gracious Will. 

27 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. 

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest. 

29 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. 

30 For My Yoke is easy, and My burden 

is Light.”

The music is exactly right. Jesus chose all of these cities to be the people, the place in time, where Jesus would reveal our Father.  One of the verses in the Scriptures, 

John 2:24

Jesus, for His part, did not entrust Himself to them, because He knew all people [and understood the superficiality and fickleness of human nature].

The Synagogue next door to Peter's house

This place had a pillar Zebedee honored his sons

John and James

The mood we can well understand.  

Stomp, stomp, stomp Your Foot, Jesus. Jesus has done all things well. And He deals with similar critics every day.  One day tells its tale to the next.  Jesus is doing some good natured, He is human, yet divine, complaining while He is doing His ministry. 

And Jesus is like the tribes of Gad, He has looked all over Israel and had chosen Capernaum with the breezes and beauty. Hills and flowers. Mount Tabor and Mount Arbel.  Jesus loves Capernaum and since the first day of His Ministry, all, everyone, turned out to hear what was spoken around Jesus since His Birth.  Jesus loves Capernaum.

And He tells them they could improve.  And then, when we think of the vast, vast Heaven told to us, we can probably say in the 7 Levels of Heaven, there is a similar one of each of these towns and the community that knew the times and comfort of their lives.  One fine day, we will go and see. 

Oh, He loves them. Jesus could collect His sandals and move on, yet, Capernaum is always on the calendar.  When Jesus prophetically tells us the end of Capernaum, He is speaking of the 13th Century AD.  The town blessing His Life and Ministry really does have His Blessing. Even the end He speaks of, actually preserves the town to be the welcoming place Capernaum is today.

Jesus continues in the next paragraph. Find Joy. Search for the Blessings of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:18

Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.

Ecclesiastes 2:24

There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the Hand of God.

Matthew 6:25-34 

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  

John 16:33

I have said these things to you, 

that in me you may have peace. 

In the world you will have tribulation. 

But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Ecclesiastes 11:9 

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Psalm 16:11

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

John 16:24

Until now you have asked nothing in My Name. 

Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Vintage Photo of Capernaum

The old, old photos from the 1800s

are important

the cities had not changed much

in population

or architecture

during the Days of Jesus on earth.

Think about all the people of faith who died in the Black Plague. They knew their lives well. But the age of information would not be their easy life.  So, perhaps, you can agree with me, the vast levels of Heaven with the nations too large to count, have villages to go and visit to understand the cultures, each culture is built upon and enjoy these Heavenly days to come.

Zechariah 8

Thus says the Lord:

 I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, 

and 

Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, 

and 

the mountain of the Lord of Hosts, the Holy mountain. 

4 Thus says the Lord of Hosts: 

Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, 

each with staff in hand because of great age. 

5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls 

playing in its streets. 

6 Thus says the Lord of Hosts:

 

If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be Marvelous in My Sight, 

declares the Lord of Hosts. 

7 Thus says the Lord of Hosts: 

Behold, 

I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, 

8 and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. 

And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, 

in faithfulness 

and in righteousness.”

The pleasant verses of God our Father displaying the real relationship of parents to their beloved.

And in these pleasant ideas of Heaven and earth interweaving, we have to say, to enjoy the blessings of the day. These days will become something to visit again, perhaps, someday, but people and places will change.  And there are Blessings of each part of life, we would hold on to.

Let us Bless The Lord,

Thanks Be to the Lord. Amen.

Abba, Father,

We pray for

more

Heaven upon earth

in 

Your Good Will.

To see more Heaven on earth

To look for more Heaven on earth

To proclaim, genuinely, more Heaven on earth

and

Sincerely,

to be and become

 more Heaven on earth.

Dwell in us

Be our help, helper, comfort, comforter

Forgive us, please

and give us more 

opportunities

to be a help and comfort to those surrounding us

Dwell in those we love

and

in Jesus Christ

we will finish well!

Forever!

And in Jesus

This Hope.

Faith and Love 

we will rise up 

Believing Jesus.

Amen

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes, The Lord Fulfills His Purpose

Thank You, Jesus The Lord