Then began He to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, because they repented not. Matthew 11:20
The book was called ‘The Story of Jesus’, and it was one of my favourites when I was a child. The story was told in language easy for a child to read, and the pictures were very well done. Many times, as I would read and reread that book, I would marvel at the miracles that the Lord Jesus performed. I thrilled to the details of the people healed, the multitudes fed, the elements calmed, and the opponents stifled by the Son of God. I was sure that if I had been living back in those days, I would certainly have been a follower of Him. But I think I might have been wrong. All I had was a book, however well written, that described those miracles. But the people in Chorazin and Bethsaida actually saw the miracles first hand, and they did not repent. Such is the heart of sinful humanity.
What an opportunity those people had! They could listen to the greatest Preacher ever as He unfolded truths concerning Himself and His kingdom. They could see the lame walking, hear the dumb speak, witness the evidence that the blind saw, and marvel at the variety and totality of the healings of people that they actually knew and could speak with. Could there be any doubt that this was the Son of God, the Messiah? And yet, they repented not. If those people had no response other than curiosity in the very presence of the Christ, how can we expect people to respond when we present them with a Gospel tract or take them to hear the simple preaching of the Gospel? And yet, people are being saved today, people who have never seen the Lord Jesus in person nor experienced any of His great miracles. Why do they believe when the residents of Chorazin and Bethsaida did not? That is a mystery that we cannot answer. But we can point to Jesus’ words about the failure to repent as a clue.
All of those who are being saved today have repented. They have understood the depths of their sinfulness and helplessness, and have acknowledged to God their need of a Saviour. That is something that the people who saw most of Jesus’ mighty works did not do. Their attention to the Lord Jesus was based on curiosity, or perhaps concern for others rather than themselves. Perhaps they were dismayed by His rejection of the methods and teachings of the Jewish leaders, just as many people today place a higher value on the practice of religion than on any relationship with God. They repented not. And they were upbraided for their lack of belief.
Our lack of belief should convict us today. The Lord Jesus would have us acknowledge our weakness and His power, our sinfulness and His holiness, our lack, and His abundance. -Jim MacIntosh