Do you hear the music God is playing?

 Read Matthew 11.

John the Baptist lingered in prison, unable to continue his ministry.  What he did not know was that he would soon be beheaded.  Under such pressure, this once bold and brash cousin of Jesus was now in need of reassurance.  Some of John's followers came asking if indeed Jesus is the Messiah.  The response pointed to His authority, His power, and His message of good news.

At that Jesus turned to the crowds and spoke concerning John and his ministry.  John was not a rich and famous man but a messenger whose ministry was to prepare the way for the Messiah.  Jesus quoted Malachi 3:1 and applied it to John as fulfilling the role of the prophet Elijah with this condition, "if you are willing to accept it."  They were not willing.

How could they not respond in faith?  In a comparison, Jesus said the reason they were not dancing was they could not hear the music God was playing.  They were spiritually blind and deaf.  Yet, even their lack of repentance was in the plan of God.  And, speaking of the lack of response, Jesus went on to condemn some of the cities where he had preached (11:1).  "They did not repent" (v.20).  Do not miss that Jesus indicated that there are degrees of eternal punishment.  Sodom experienced the temporal judgment of God in Genesis 19, but eternal judgment waits.  Some, like the unrepentant people of Capernaum, will suffer even more than the people of Sodom in eternity.  Why?   They were given greater opportunity.  Here stood Jesus, God in the flesh.  They saw the miracles.  They heard but without response to His call to believe in Him.

Still, Jesus extended another invitation in verses 28-30.
1. "Come to me."
He viewed the people in 9:36 as being "harassed and helpless."  Here, he saw them as burdened down and tired of carrying their load in life.  His offer is rest.

2. "Take my yoke upon you."
As two oxen are joined in a yoke for work, Jesus invites us to personally link up with Him.  It is not a 50/50 assignment.  His yoke is light and easy because life must lived in His strength and power.

3. "Learn from me."
Merely knowing Jesus will not lighten the load.  There is no discipleship without discipline.  The picture of the yoke implies that there is work to be done.  We must intentionally be trained in God's word and His ways to be able to live a life that pleases Him and benefits us.

The result is rest for our souls.  Peace with God.  Peace from God.