“Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Matthew 11:6 NIV
This verse stood out to me as I also recalled reading these words in the last chapter we read, Luke 7:23. The Jews have been waiting for their long expected King to arrive and would have had their preconceived notions as to what their Saviour would look like. Perhaps they anticipated him being more handsome and physically stronger than anyone they had seen before. Or maybe they thought he would have more jewelry and possessions than other known kings.
But that is not how the Messiah arrived nor presented himself. His characteristics were more on the flip side of the possible preconceived notions listed above; He had nothing and was very humble.
Without mixing up Jesus’s words in the verse above, one could say it this way: Happy is he who shall not take offence at my poverty and lowlines of life, so as to reject my doctrine. Happy is the one who can, notwithstanding that evidence that I am the Messiah, and follow me.
Jesus provided sufficient evidence of him being the Messiah by his works. If only they might discover his works, appreciate the evidence, and then so chose to believe. In this, they would be happy to embrace him as the Christ, in spite of his humble manner of life.

This past Easter was the first time I really considered that even the disciples (who spent so much time with Jesus) were still expecting a Messiah who would save them from their earthly hardships. Even Judas may have betrayed Jesus to try and force Him into what Judas believed Jesus had come to do or be. Jesus was not the Saviour people were expecting and that unmet expectation results in unbelief and hardened hearts.
This stood out for me as I personally enter a season of busyness:
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 NLT
What a comfort and relief to know there is rest in Him when we feel overwhelmed.
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