A Cursed Generation?

This morning I felt led to read from Matt 11, and while a couple of my favorite are found at the end of this chapter, my mind was drawn to the following verses 0 Matthew 11:16-24 NIV:

[16] “To what can I compare this generation? 

They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 

[17] “ 'We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' 

[18] For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' [19] The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” 

[20] Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. [21] “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. [22] But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. [23] And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. [24] But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

The theme of the verses above is the lack of repentance, and it has to do with control and judgment.  Looking closely, the youth Jesus is referring to are the ones playing the songs but others are not responding the way they want them too!   In other words the others are not acting as expected.  Jesus continues on and says these people don't like John and his fasted lifestyle, and say he has demons, while they accuse Jesus of being a drunkard and a glutton.  Neither John or Jesus followed the religious norms of the day, and the people rejected them.

Jesus goes on to say that people of certain towns refused to repent, or change the way they thought about God, in the very face of miracles, and signs that Jesus worked. It is interesting how Jesus spoke about the generation (vs 16), and I wonder if there is something to that?  I know from my days in education and youth ministry, that there were certain classes (kids from one grade) that were difficult and others that were great to work with, and this seems to be a larger perspective that Jesus is addressing.  We have generational titles these days, like the boomers, the gen-X, gen-z, and we like to group all of those people together and judge them accordingly.  In similar ways we like to categorize people by their political beliefs, their gender, their sports teams, their race, or any number of other labels.  The one thing I know is the Lord, while aware of these groupings, never treats us from only that perspective.

If we look at the generation comments, one could think that Jesus was condemning them all.  In fact, later in Matthew's Gospel Jesus lays some heavy wood to the generation saying - Matthew 23:33-36 NIV:  “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? [34] Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. [35] And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. [36] Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation."

One could think, after reading these statements, that the whole generation was being condemned, and yet it was this same generation that experienced the coming of the Messiah and salvation exploding into the world through Jesus' sacrificial life!   One could make a point that this generation was the most cursed and the most blessed. God is perfectly just, merciful, compassionate and holy all at the same time.  The very generation that crucified the Lord, was invited into the Kingdom.  The very apostles who abandoned Jesus during His passion and death were redeemed, released and empowered as His witnesses!  Later on we find Saul, one of the lead persecutors of the early church converting and becoming Paul, one of the greatest evangelists of all time!  The Lord never gives up on an individual, generation or people group!  He is always at work drawing, inviting, and saving!

Our invitation today is to turn away from our selfish, or worldly mindsets and turn towards Him!  The Lord will never turn His back on us, regardless of how selfish, self-focused we become, or even if we deny Him or attack Him.  As I was writing these last sentences I was reminded of the great songs found in Revelation 5:9-14 NIV:

[9] "And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. [10] You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” 

[11] Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. [12] In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 

[13] Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 

[14] The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped."

The invitation today is for us to turn to the Lord, and join this heavenly worship with our lives poured out in worship of the Lord!

Amen and Amen!