Hans Sangtoki Bible Reading: Luke 10:13-16
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable in the judgement for Tyre and Sidon than for you.” (Luke 10:13-14)
Jesus spent a considerable portion of His time up to this moment teaching and performing miracles in the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. Externally, Christ plainly revealed who He was in word and deed. Yet, the great crowds who followed Him like a celebrity, listened to every word He said, stood in awe at every miracle Jesus performed still rejected Christ.
They wanted Jesus to be a king that provided for their desires. They did not want to repent in sackcloth and ashes and make Jesus the ruler of every corner of their heart. They wanted Jesus so that they could exploit Him for His blessings of healing, food and abundance. Jesus saw right through the crowd of five-thousand who received miraculous bread and fish from Him. Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves” (John 6:26). They wanted a king who gave them free bread. They rejected a king who would rule over their lives.
Jesus cursed these cities for their blatant rejection of the gospel. God’s wrath is truly frightening. No one can stand before the curse of the Creator of this universe. Capernaum, who thought itself would be exalted to heaven, was, in fact, destined to be brought down to hell. Those who hear the gospel and reject it from God’s servant rejects Jesus and the Father.
How many times have we heard the gospel? We are surrounded by plain gospel truth around us. We even witness the working and leading of God in our churches and ministries. Yet, do we have eyes to see and ears to hear? Do we repent in humility, in sackcloth and ashes, and crown Christ truly as ruler and king over our lives? Many in the church are fake, pretending to be sheep when they are goats. They do not submit to Christ; they reject Him.
Who are you? Have you repented in sackcloth and ashes? A humility and repenting of sin are the signs of those who truly crown Christ as their king. May God have mercy on us and work these things in our hearts.
Lord, we frequently hear Your Word day in and day out. Yet, we are afraid that we reject Your truth many times. Have mercy on us. Cultivate in our hearts true repentance and submission to Your ways. Teach us to be humble and broken before You. Have our whole hearts. In Jesus’ name, amen.