“I will give you rest.” In one way or another, aren’t we all weary, burdened with problems, sorrows and cares? So, who would want to refuse such a beautiful promise?

The cities in which most of Jesus’ miracles were done, that’s who. The citizens of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum had all seen Jesus healing the sick and casting out demons. And yet, as verse 20 makes clear, they did not repent: they did not turn away from their sin and turn to Jesus.

And that’s because, as verse 25 points out, they thought they were wise and intelligent enough to have all the answers. And so, they didn’t see why they should humble themselves before Jesus or take the yoke of discipleship upon themselves and learn what He had to teach them (verse 29). As a result, Jesus warned them that they were actually in greater danger than the famously wicked cities of Tyre and Sidon, and even ancient Sodom, which was destroyed by fire from heaven (verse 23; Genesis 19:24). And if we cling to our pride and our preconceptions about Jesus, if we imagine that He is just some kind of cosmic bully who wants to steal our joy and load us down with impossible demands for holiness, we can expect nothing less.

But the good news is that if we will see Jesus’ gentle and humble heart, if we will recognize that we are nothing more than helpless babes, if we will take the yoke of Christ upon ourselves, allowing Him to direct our every step, then we can be sure that He will reveal the Father to us. For it is only those who bow the knee to Christ as Lord and Savior who will receive the rest we so desperately need.

Matthew 11:20-30 (NASB)

20 Then He began to reproach the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.
21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 “Nevertheless I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you.
23 “And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You shall descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day.
24 “Nevertheless I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, “I praise Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou didst hide these things from the wise and intelligent and didst reveal them to babes.
26 “Yes, Father, for thus it was well-pleasing in Thy sight.
27 “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son, except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
29 “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.
30 “For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.”