Day 13: Matthew 11

Jesus brings something radically new and more significant than the Old Testament

John's disciples come to Jesus and relay John's question. Jesus replies by telling them that the prophesies of Isaiah have come true, especially Isaiah 35 (and Isaiah 8 too) where the deaf hear and the blind see, and the exile will be over and the people will return to the land on God's highway (that Jesus/Matthew helpfully reminds us has been prepared by John). In other words this is it. Jesus is the one. More than that John, amazing as he is, is nothing compared to what Jesus is bringing. The least of his people is greater than John. The old order has gone with it's physical earthly kingdom, now the true Kingdom is here with the true King.

This truth is rejected though. John, the old, is rejected and Jesus, the new, too. The people end up with neither and are in a worse state than the judged cities of the Old Testament. The truth about God, however, is revealed to children (as it is in Isaiah 8). They must accept it from Jesus. It is He who chooses who he will reveal it too. His call is wonderful, but no-one will take it up unless first chosen by Jesus to understand it.