(As I’ve mentioned before, I’m writing a book on the New Testament. From time to time, I’ll use an entry as my blog post. This one is on Matthew 11.)

Have you ever looked for something and it was right under your nose the whole time?
Or gone hiking and tripped over a rock that was in plain sight?
Or heard something with your ears but it didn’t register with your brain?

I think that’s Jesus’ message in this passage. Here I am, in plain sight, but some will stumble over me.

Old Testament prophecies were being fulfilled. People were being healed and raised from the dead, but miracles weren’t registering with the people. Or the people were flat-out rejecting such things. Or maybe they were too busy, or too cool, or life was going just fine, thank-you-very-much.

How are people rejecting him these days?
“I’ll ignore him and maybe he’ll go away.”
“I don’t like those evangelicals.”
“I’m a good person so I don’t need God.”
“The clergy are worse than I am.”
“The churches just want my money.”
“I don’t believe in spiritual things or eternity. When we die, we die.”

Now, I’ve talked to several non-believers over the years who are really impressed with Jesus himself. They just don’t like religion. Can’t say I blame them sometimes.

Well, back to the passage. Here’s how it ends. Jesus says, “Come to me for rest.” Jesus had a way of cutting to the chase. Nothing hidden.

Matthew 11 follows Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, which is Matthew 5-7. If you haven’t picked that up for a while (or ever), it’s a beautiful read.