Passage Read: Matthew 11-12
Meditation Verses: 11:20-21
Thought
The correct response to miracles is repentance. When miracles are given, it is so the people who see them or hear about them would know that the messenger is sent from God and they need to listen to Him. Miracles raise the expectation of God on the people who experience the miracles or just hear about them. The cities where Jesus performed most of His miracles should have repented en masse. Because they didn't, their judgment, their condemnation will be worse than those cities and people who didn't experience such miracles. Miracles are not necessary; merely preaching the truth is sufficient to condemn a people who do not repent (12:41-42).
Application
Most people in these towns and cities probably didn't see the miracles with their own eyes, but still there would heave been quite a stir when someone was healed, especially given the multitudes who came to Jesus for healing. Surely every person would know someone who was healed or someone who knew of another who was healed. God expects those who hear something to go and check it out and discover that it really happened, and discovering that should lead them back to Jesus, who He really is and how they need to listen, believe and act on what He teaches. So anyone who doesn't bother to check things out, their blood is on their own head; they condemn themselves. Anyone who hears about Jesus, about His power and authority, about the things He teaches, anyone who hears whether first-hand or second-hand or third-hand or any other way, yet doesn't bother to check things out, that's on them; their only hope of salvation came near and they didn't think it important enough to find out; they condemn themselves. I don't have to speak to every person in order to complete my responsibility to a community, I just have to speak up, so that some hear something. Word spreads and all hear something and become responsible to find out or else they condemn themselves.