Salvation and Rescue for Childlike Faith
This last weekend we had our service project and some from our CityPoint family went and packed food with Meals from the Heartland. On service weekends we don’t also do worship gatherings, so I wanted to send out some extra thoughts and resources for our Matthew series, related to the last few chapters we’ve been in to help keep our minds in the Word and on track with where we’re going. The last two chapters we’ve covered were 11 and 12, so let’s look a little more at them, starting with chapter 11.
If you remember from our week on this chapter, John the Baptist sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was indeed the Messiah, to which Jesus responded with confirmation based on how He was bringing to life the Kingdom of Heaven which pointed back to prophecies from Scripture. At the end of the chapter we see Jesus point out that it is God’s will that people will recognize Him as the Messiah through faith. We see that in Matthew 11:25-27
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.
Just like later in Matthew 18:3, Jesus is making it clear that unless a person comes like a child, needy and dependent, he or she cannot find salvation. “Entry into the kingdom involves understanding that one is wholly dependent upon God for salvation, just as a little child is wholly dependent for life and health upon loving adults [GTB].” This is related to our discussion in our gathering and in that week’s summary article on v6 “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” The “wise and understanding” (v25) would be offended by the idea that the savior was coming as the suffering servant. It doesn’t make sense in the world’s mind that crucifixion which looks like defeat, is actually victory through atonement of sins for all who would believe (Rom. 3:21–26; 2 Cor. 5:19–21; Gal. 3:13). That is why Paul calls the Gospel “a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to Gentiles” (1 Cor. 1:18-2:8). Or to put it simply, it trips up the self-righteous religious, and it doesn’t make sense to the logic and philosophies of the world.
To drive this point further, Jesus invites all who are weary and under the burdens of the world and religious rules to come follow Him, where they would not be crushed under such weight, but relieved (11:28-30). This was not Jesus changing the rules, but staying true to the spirit of the law in the Hebrew Scriptures, which the Pharisees had forgotten. Psalms says that “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul…” and “...a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 19:7-11; 119). Jesus was reminding the people of the true nature of the Lord’s commandments, and was inviting them to join Him in the ways of the new Kingdom. “He did not come to save those who think they are secure, but those who know they are not. That is why he could say to those who believed in him, ‘Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28).” As you wrap up your week, meditate on Christ’s call to rest in Him as you follow Him, and check out this video on Matthew 11.