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Post by michelle on Feb 8, 2007 20:52:19 GMT -8
12/05:
20"Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! 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. 22But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.[d] If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you." It seems to me that this passage gives some hope to those people who have not heard the word. While everyone will be judged, it appears that God will have more understanding for those you have never heard than He will for those who heard and did not listen. What do you think??
30"For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
I think we would all agree that Jesus burden was anything but light. So why would He say something like that? Is it because He was God and knew that He would have the strength to follow through with the plan? Or is it because He wasn't quite as human as we are? I find this a perplexing passage.
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Post by Josh on Feb 9, 2007 17:16:17 GMT -8
12/05:
I personally like how John the Baptist, of whom the Jesus says that there had been none greater born of woman before him, had DOUBTS about Jesus. Jesus praises him, despite the fact that he's doubting!
Also, the notion of God in the flesh being a "friend of sinners" (verse 19) is powerful when looked at from the perspective of the Old Testament and it's focus on the severity of sin.
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Post by Josh on Feb 9, 2007 17:16:44 GMT -8
12/05:
Yep, it does imply levels of responsibility and punishment- in short, a God Who takes all contingencies and exceptions into consideration before making a final judgment. I guess we need never worry that God will be unjust in his judgments, he being God and all, and justice just an outgrowth of who He is. (ie, any notion we have of justice must have come from Him, and our notion of justice can only be inferior to His, never superior).
As far as the yoke/ burden thing, I think He's talking about His yoke on us, not His own yoke that He carries. In fact, I've heard some say that the yoke is like a yoke that two oxen carry simultaneously. A new ox would be trained to carry the yoke by having an experienced ox bear most of the weight, the other just kind of going through the motions.
And elsewhere he asks us to take up our cross, right? So that burden must still be much less heavy than the burden of our own sin.
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