God Drawn

“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank You, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the sophisticated and cunning, and revealed them to babes.” (Matthew 11:25)

This Scripture begins with the words, “at that time.” It seems important to note why it was necessary to write those words. Jesus was in Capernaum at the time. He prophesies over Capernaum along with other cities because they would not repent. “Then He began to upbraid the cities in which most of His mighty works were done, because they did not repent.” (Matthew 11:20) Jesus had actually moved to Capernaum. After the forty days and nights of fasting and being tempted when John the Baptist was imprisoned, Jesus moves to Capernaum and starts His ministry. “But when Jesus heard that John was thrown into prison, He went back into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and lived in Capernaum, which is on the seacoast, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the nations! The people who sat in darkness saw a great Light; and Light has sprung up to those who sat in the region and shadow of death." From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent! For the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:12-17)

Capernaum was where Jesus started His ministry. The city is no more, and its location is unknown except that it was in Galilee by the Sea of Galilee in the area where the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali were located. And even though Jesus taught there and miracles done there, there was no repentance. They had witnessed Jesus heal from afar when He healed the Centurion’s servant. (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10) He healed Peter’s mother-in-law in her home in Capernaum. (Matthew 8:14,15; Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38,39) Jesus healed the paralytic who was helped down through the roof of a crowded house when they couldn’t get in. (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26) He healed the son of a royal official. (John 4:46-54) Jesus commanded a spirit out of a man in the synagogue. (Mark 1:27; Luke 4:31-37) And He did many other miracles there to establish Who He was and what His mission was.

Many feel that if people only would see a miracle, they would believe. But Capernaum is a good example of the fact that this is not true. It is not miracles that move people to be drawn to Jesus and to believe. It is God’s love that draws men to Him. Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father Who has sent Me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44) No one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him. It’s God initiated. It’s a work of God’s love and mercy. We are recipients of His love and mercy when He drew us to Jesus. It may seem like He’s picking and choosing, but God knows our hearts and the intentions of the heart which may even be hid from us. “I Jehovah search the heart, I try the reins, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:10) This was God working in the Old Testament. But the same is true in the New Testament. God has a standard for His love to move to have mercy on us and draw us to Jesus. It’s undeserved and unlike in the Old Testament has nothing to do with what we do or don’t do. It’s His love and His mercy to move us from darkness to the life-giving light of Jesus. The question for everyone is, what is the intent of your heart?

Capernaum didn’t repent. There was a great display of love and mercy in Jesus’ teachings and healings. Yet they failed to repent. One must understand that life was not spiritual at that time. People were focused on living day to day, working hard, fishing or working in labor, just to eat. They were overtaxed by the Romans and elites of the synagogue and could barely make ends meet. They wanted liberation from the Romans. Their idea of a Messiah was one who would conquer the Romans and raise up Israel. Everything Jesus taught was understood by their natural desire and not understood in a spiritual sense. They didn’t want to repent. They just wanted to be free of the Romans. And this is the crowd that followed Jesus. They just wanted their needs met. “And a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His miracles which He did on the sick ones.” (John 6:2)

After Jesus condemns the cities for not repenting, is the time that Jesus prays to the Father, thanking Him that He has hidden the treasures of heaven from them and given it to babes or in other words the simple minded, those who were not after just what they could get out from Him, but were being drawn by the Father to Jesus. It may seem that the word that Jesus used and was translated babes actually means simple minded seems derogatory. But it is not when you think. These babes followed Jesus because they were drawn to Him and were not following Him shrewdly to get what they wanted from Him like the crowds.

This brings us to a point today of those who are drawn to Jesus, not by the Father but by their ambition whatever it may be. They don’t really love Him. They don’t desire His presence in their lives. They just want Him to give them what they want. They are in church today. You may even know who they are, but let’s not judge. They are like the crowds that followed Jesus. They think they are acting wisely but the Truth of salvation is hidden from them.  They are like the people of Capernaum. They have not and don’t want to repent.

How does this apply to us? First, we need to make sure we’re not like the people of Capernaum, only seeking the Lord because we want something from Him. And next, we need to humbly seek Him daily for Who He is, Savior, Lamb of God, the Lord Redeemer, Son of God, Emmanuel, God with us, King of kings and Lord of lords, the Living Bread, the Bread of Life, Prince of Peace, Advocate and our High Priest.

All in all, we can see the circumstances the people of Capernaum were in and can see why they desired what they wanted, but they were not repentant. They didn’t love Jesus. But there were those who did love Him. They followed Him because their hearts were moved by His teaching and were drawn to Jesus because the Father drew them. These Jesus called simple minded were not belittled by Him, but Jesus meant that they were not shrewdly self-seeking.

Let us pray

Father God, of Heaven and Earth, glory to Your Holy Name. You are all wise and knowing. I thank You for the mercy and love You have shown me. I thank You for drawing me to Jesus and opening my eyes to Your Truth. Thank You for giving me understanding of spiritual things. Holy Father, if I have failed to repent in an area, I wait for You to shine Your light and reveal it to me. I repent of those sins, faults and defects that are hidden from my conscious. Reveal them to me my Lord so I can be free to follow Jesus in all sincerity and truth. . I pray Lord that You would not allow me to be deceived. Help me to see myself as You see me.

Father I pray for those who say they follow Jesus but have not repented of their sins. I pray Lord that You would open their eyes, their ears and hearts of understanding. I love You Lord. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.