We all wrestle with things not going the way we expect them to go - with God not doing for us what we think is best, and on our timetable. It’s in that kind of hardship that doubts can rise up and overwhelm us. In Matthew 11:1-24, John the Baptist, one of the greatest men on earth in Jesus’ opinion, is wrestling with doubt. It’s a place where honest questions find honest answers, personal expectations are dashed to pieces and sobering words are in search of a humble heart. Jesus isn’t threatened by your questions, discouragement and doubt. He’ll meet you right where you are.

Imagine standing before the love of your life on your wedding day and hearing vows like, “I’m all in, so long as I don’t ever get my feelings hurt. I’ll give you my devotion, except when I get bored. I’m committed to you, but not on the weekends.” Hopefully no one would be ok with those vows. In Matthew 10:34-42 Jesus is clear that if you want to follow him you have to be “all in.” He says it in a way that shows us what that looks like, what it requires and what it produces.

The Kingdom of God is breaking into this world. Jesus sent his disciples to share this message and warned them that persecution is coming as they share this good news. We too are called to share this same message, but often fear of what could happen stops us from sharing who Jesus is. In Matthew 10:1-33, Jesus challenges our fears of sharing the gospel by reminding us of God’s intimate involvement in our lives.

Do you see the harvest? It’s all around you. So many people longing for answers, hungry for truth, ready for the beauty and authenticity of Jesus’ message to disrupt and heal their lives. So many, caught up in a whirlwind of anxiety, ready for Jesus’ compassion to move towards them. But where do you begin? In Matthew 9:35-38 Jesus tells his followers to begin with earnest prayer for more hands – for more “laborers,” eager to participate in the harvest of this city and willing to go far beyond its borders.

It was brand new in every way. Jesus’ message and behavior didn’t fit into the religious categories or systems of his day and it doesn’t fit into ours either. It didn’t kneel to man- made traditions and it most definitely couldn’t be contained by them. Matthew 9:14-34 describes the brand-new day Jesus brings with colorful metaphors and extraordinary healings. It leaves you to wrestle with whether or not you will celebrate and go on to participate in the brand-new yourself.

Theirs was a life of isolation, shame and fear. One man was paralyzed and labeled as having done something to deserve it; the other was wealthy but written off as a sell-out and traitor. Matthew 9:1-13 is the story of how Jesus meets both of them in their desperation and provides a way out it. By doing this, Jesus reveals the depth of his authority to meet you in your greatest need and call you to follow him. It’s the reason why he came.