Flutes, Dirges, and Judgment…
“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.”
God entered into this world in the person of Jesus Christ as part of a plan to redeem lost sinners. The Lord had even prepared a prophet named John the Baptist to herald the arrival of the Christ. None of this was out of the blue; rather, God had spoken through the Old Testament prophets that a Messiah would be coming. However, when the long awaited Messiah had arrived, many people rejected Him.
Jesus compared those who rejected Him as mutinous children resting opportunities to have fun with others. “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn,” said the Lord (Matt. 11:17). John the Baptist called people to repent; yet, many wept not for their sin, but dismissed the Baptizer as a demoniac. Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, pronounced the arrival of God’s kingdom, and there was every reason to celebrate; yet, many complained that He was a “drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt. 11:18).
Something epic was happening in first century Israel for God had incarnated Himself in the person of Jesus the Messiah, and John the Baptist was sent to herald the occasion; yet, many rejected the Son of Man. The Lord ministered in Chorazin, Bethsadia, and Capernaum, but the people for the most part did not embrace their Messiah and God. They committed an egregious sin. Inasmuch, as Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom were sinful cities and rightly fell under divine wrath; however, God did not show to the former what Chorazin, Bethsadia, and Capernaum had received. These latter sinful cities were given so more light, and their judgment would be far more severe. The condemnation of these corrupt cites would be according to the light they had received.
The kingdom that Christ has to offer does not fit well with those who love the darkness more than the light. They see no need to turn from sin, and they despise what God celebrates. On the other hand, those who enter into the kingdom of God must come to grips with the reality of their own sin and need of salvation. They hear the dirge, and it is their song, and they weep. Moreover, those who enter into the kingdom of God experience transformation into heavenly citizens, and the things of the world grow dim in the light of God’s embrace. They begin to rejoice with flutes and songs of happiness over the things God rejoices over.
God entered into this world in the person of Jesus Christ as part of a plan to redeem lost sinners. The Lord had even prepared a prophet named John the Baptist to herald the arrival of the Christ. None of this was out of the blue; rather, God had spoken through the Old Testament prophets that a Messiah would be coming. However, when the long awaited Messiah had arrived, many people rejected Him.
Jesus compared those who rejected Him as mutinous children resting opportunities to have fun with others. “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn,” said the Lord (Matt. 11:17). John the Baptist called people to repent; yet, many wept not for their sin, but dismissed the Baptizer as a demoniac. Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, pronounced the arrival of God’s kingdom, and there was every reason to celebrate; yet, many complained that He was a “drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt. 11:18).
Something epic was happening in first century Israel for God had incarnated Himself in the person of Jesus the Messiah, and John the Baptist was sent to herald the occasion; yet, many rejected the Son of Man. The Lord ministered in Chorazin, Bethsadia, and Capernaum, but the people for the most part did not embrace their Messiah and God. They committed an egregious sin. Inasmuch, as Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom were sinful cities and rightly fell under divine wrath; however, God did not show to the former what Chorazin, Bethsadia, and Capernaum had received. These latter sinful cities were given so more light, and their judgment would be far more severe. The condemnation of these corrupt cites would be according to the light they had received.
The kingdom that Christ has to offer does not fit well with those who love the darkness more than the light. They see no need to turn from sin, and they despise what God celebrates. On the other hand, those who enter into the kingdom of God must come to grips with the reality of their own sin and need of salvation. They hear the dirge, and it is their song, and they weep. Moreover, those who enter into the kingdom of God experience transformation into heavenly citizens, and the things of the world grow dim in the light of God’s embrace. They begin to rejoice with flutes and songs of happiness over the things God rejoices over.
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