Matthew 11:20-30
“Notice what you notice.” Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done… (v. 20). Now having done the readings as we have, in “short form”, day by day, chronologically, I have a new sense of what is meant by the cities where most of his mighty works had been done. Most of our time this year has been spent in those boundary cities on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. And a number of the healings we have seen – the paralytic through the roof, Jairus’ daughter, etc. – have been done in Capernaum. In the past I’d have just glossed over these early verses in today’s reading, but now I have a much greater appreciation for Jesus’ tirade against these cities. And this is Galilee, friendly territory… What happens when He gets to Jerusalem!!??
Hidden in plain sight: 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… (v. 25). These things were “hidden” from the scribes and Pharisees because of their own blindness. They were too locked-in to their own traditions and beliefs that they could not accept Jesus’ alternative teachings, even when He backed His words up with Scripture. Their arguments were consistently targeted to their own justification, which necessitated condemnation of Jesus’ words.
There is still a lot hidden in Scripture that we are constantly digging to find. But as I learned during “Holy Spirit” week at Creative Arts Camp, as we seek to learn, the Holy Spirit continues to unlock the meanings behind what Jesus has said and done. That has clearly happened to me during this year in the Gospels! We just need to keep seeking.
Slava Bohu!