Tuesday July 12th: Words and Works of Jesus

Cause me to listen and repent…

Matthew 11: 20-24

Tyre and Sidon were cities threatened by destruction via conquest.  They were historically, in opposition to Israel yet Jesus is of the view that had they encountered the words and works of Jesus, they would have listened and repented.

Sodom and Gomorrah were sinful cities destroyed by sulphur and fire because of their wickedness, yet Jesus expresses that had they encountered the words and works of Jesus, they would not have been destroyed.

Miracles are the words and works of Jesus.  There is a direct message here for us.  When we receive miracles from God, the words and works of Jesus, an encounter with Christ, Jesus expects us to repent – to be changed, to turn from our wicked and oppositional ways.  The passage says ‘they refused to repent’. This involved a stubbornness to stay in their ways and not be changed by the words and works of Jesus.

Lord Jesus, cause me to listen and repent when you touch my life with your miracles so that you have no cause to reproach me!