Matthew 11 & 12

I have to piggyback off of what you said Eric about chapter 11. This reading of the NT has allowed me to read things much more deeply then I ever had before. I remember Jesus praising John the Baptist (JTB), but not in the detail and the honor that the Son of God did in Matthew 11. Just reading it made me feel so proud of what JTB did and endured to pave the way for Jesus.

I have always wondered about the cities where Jesus performed miracles and their responses to those acts. I was frightened by Jesus’ words about cities that witnessed great things, but did nothing to repent from their ways. The fact that Sodom will be judged easier then these cities is quite a scary thought. As I think about it, would we of heard and believed instantly? I don’t know.

Chapter 12 is full of deceit and anger to me. From the Pharisees trying to trick Jesus from Jesus’ response to it.

I wonder what it would have been like to be Jesus’ sibling? To know that your brother is experiencing these things and performing miracles would motivate me to do more and follow. But Jesus doesn’t just put the family or sibling tag on the people that are related by blood, anyone who “does the will of God” is part of a family of believers in Christ. That is the motivation to love everyone in the body of Christ as part of a family.