The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 11:6,
"Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me."
John the baptist's disciples had gone to Jesus to verify he was the Messiah. After providing ample evidence he was, he closed his comments with the above statement.
Why would anyone possibly "stumble" because of Jesus?
Clearly, the stumbling he had in mind was the failure for anyone to achieve the singular ultimate priority this life has: to find our way from this life into eternal life. To not reach the life that awaits those who find God's favor in this age, resulting in inheriting all that will be ours in heaven, is the greatest stumble of all, the greatest failure possible in this life. There exists no greater failure, no greater stumble than this.
From the heart of God, the greatest expression of love than mankind can find is the sacrifice Jesus made of himself that we might inherit life in heaven. "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:9-10.
Again I ask, why would anyone possibly "stumble" because of Jesus? He answered this question himself when Nicodemus had approached him, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." John 3:19-21.
Paul observes this when he referenced Isaiah 8:14 and 28:16 in Romans 9:33, "See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame." There he points out that people who have hardened their hearts toward Jesus are unwilling to embrace him in faith, and do so with the mistaken notion that they can "do it on their own." And, of course, nothing could be further from the truth.
"Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me."
John the baptist's disciples had gone to Jesus to verify he was the Messiah. After providing ample evidence he was, he closed his comments with the above statement.
Why would anyone possibly "stumble" because of Jesus?
Clearly, the stumbling he had in mind was the failure for anyone to achieve the singular ultimate priority this life has: to find our way from this life into eternal life. To not reach the life that awaits those who find God's favor in this age, resulting in inheriting all that will be ours in heaven, is the greatest stumble of all, the greatest failure possible in this life. There exists no greater failure, no greater stumble than this.
From the heart of God, the greatest expression of love than mankind can find is the sacrifice Jesus made of himself that we might inherit life in heaven. "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:9-10.
Again I ask, why would anyone possibly "stumble" because of Jesus? He answered this question himself when Nicodemus had approached him, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." John 3:19-21.
Paul observes this when he referenced Isaiah 8:14 and 28:16 in Romans 9:33, "See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame." There he points out that people who have hardened their hearts toward Jesus are unwilling to embrace him in faith, and do so with the mistaken notion that they can "do it on their own." And, of course, nothing could be further from the truth.
We are all sinners, incapable of being enough of a "do-gooder" to earn our way into the kingdom of heaven. If we could, why do you suppose Jesus allowed himself to be nailed to a cross?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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