Nothing New Under the Sun

Matthew 11:14-17 - And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying: "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we mourned to you, and you did not lament."

As seen in the Book of Ecclesiastes (again!), nothing changes. What was done in the past plays out still today. Nothing new under the sun. 

Jesus spoke above of John the Baptist, the one who ushered Him into His ministry. The one who was the voice calling in the wilderness to all who would listen to repent and turn to Him. Jesus had been prophesied about in the religious leaders' Tanakh, our Old Testament, that they should have recognized but refused to. This Messiah, Jesus, did not look like what they had expected, He turned their beliefs upside down, so they chose not hear His words. 

Elijah was an Old Testament prophet who stood fast in his beliefs of God and performed miracles, much like Jesus did. It is said he will return again before Jesus returns as a witness to Him. Perhaps through him many people, Jews and Gentiles, will finally believe. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse. (Malachi‬ ‭4:5-6)

Jesus is pleading above for those who have ears, to hear. He is talking to the religious leaders of His day. That pleading continues through Jesus' followers to all people. Hear the words of Jesus. Listen and learn. Know what He has come for, for whom and the results of not receiving Him.

Interestingly, there are chapters and verses not read in daily readings in synagogues by the religious leaders because they are prophesied words of Jesus and if they read them they might have to confront them and admit they had been wrong about Who the verses speak about. Isaiah 53 does this (as do various other Old Testament scriptures). If you are interested, watch this video. I just saw it. It is a Jewish believer witnessing to Jewish people. Very powerful.  

Funny how Jesus even suggested that His generation was filled with people so not willing to hear. Things do not change. Nothing new under the sun! To many Jesus is a myth, as is God. To others Jesus was no more than a good man, a prophet and teacher but somehow they overlooked His miracles and believed His resurrection false. Oh, the things we can believe if we are so determined. That goes for believers and unbelievers! 

Jesus spoke, admonished, showed signs and some still did not respond. Some came up with reasons for not following, many of which were just misconceived ideas. The truth was not received, facts twisted. How many thousands of years later and nothing has changed. 

Lord, let those ears hear. Let all the words You have spoken for our benefit be understood and received. Let the people grasp Who You are and what You have done for all people and what happens if we reject You. You forgive us of our sins, bring us hope and eternal life. Who wouldn't want that, especially in these days? Open the ears and eyes of Jews, atheists, people who just don't care and even believers, that there would be a greater measure of understanding, a desire for a closer walk with You. 

There is nothing new under the sun. Some people believed, some rejected, some lost interest. Same today. But as I said in a previous blog, there is always something new under the Son. Newness of life, spiritual healing, understanding, joy, comfort, peace. Let us hear Him. He does have the words of life. 

John 6:66-69 - From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” And Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

‭