278 - "The Unforced Rhythms of Grace" Matthew 12

The images of the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba condemning Jesus' generation in Israel at the judgment would have horrified Jesus' hearers.  They didn't expect a Savior to come preaching with such harsh judgment.  And they thought they were religious. Thought they were okay---good enough.  Just because you think you know the truth and act on it doesn't mean that what you think and do is right.   Most people in Israel did not accept the introduction by John---the Light of the World Who had come.  Countries asked him to leave.  Israelites shrugged their shoulders.

Matthew 12: 41-42 ~ "The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here."  Nineveh and the Queen both knew far less facts about Christ than Israel first-hand witnessing miracle after miracle.  Yet, they believed.

Even John himself, the one full of the Holy Spirit introducing our Savior replies in Matthew 11:4 “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” John knew Jesus came to change people's hearts not fix their world.  Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see:  the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”  John sat in a damp dismal dungeon knowing he had heard and embraced the Truth.  He would not be rescued.  He would be beheaded.  And he would die at rest knowing God and advancing His Kingdom.  

Am I disrupted by the story of John the Baptist and how he learned the unforced rhythms of Grace?  "I should be!  God prefers a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual (Matt 12:7)."  "This is war, and there is no neutral ground (Matt 12:30).  If you're not on my side, you're the enemy...Consider this---"There's nothing done or said that can't be forgiven (Matt 12:32)."  Take heart!  "It's your heart that gives meaning to your words (Matt 12:34)."

So what did John the Baptist know that I don't know in the midst of trials?