Matthew 11:20 “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, 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 up to heaven? No, you will be brought 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.”
For hundreds of years, the Jews had looked down on Tyre and Sidon. After all, those two cities belonged to the Philistines and were dedicated to the worship of idols. And if Tyre and Sidon were anathema, Sodom and Gomorrah were even worse! After all, Sodom and Gomorrah were so evil that God literally rained fire from heaven down upon those two cities to destroy them. Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum are all clustered together on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. Within a short time after Jesus’ pronouncements, all three villages sank into oblivion, their actual locations forgotten. Today Bethsaida and Capernaum have been largely preserved due to monuments and churches of various kinds; however, Chorazin is little more than basalt ruins inhabited by rock badgers.
Why were Jesus’ predictions so harsh? These three villages were the scenes of some of Jesus’ greatest miracles, and yet, the people failed to repent. They were willing to follow Jesus for entertainment, but their hearts were hard and their spiritual eyes were blind. Never since the days of Elijah and Elisha the prophets had anyone been raised from the dead or healed of leprosy! Jesus was preaching and teaching about the kingdom of God, using parables that should have spoken to the hearts of all his hearers. When Jonah finally obeyed God and went to Nineveh to preach, everyone in the entire city, including the king, fasted, dressed themselves in sack cloth, and sat in ashes and repented. Jesus observed that had he preached in Tyre and Sidon, demon – ridden as they were, their inhabitants would have copied the example of the Ninevites and repented.
Folks in the rural southern United States are fond of saying, “Even a blind hog can find an acorn once in awhile.” This means that even if someone is not very bright, if they keep trying, they can still find what they are seeking or succeed at the task they have attempted. If the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum had actually been hungry for more of God, they would have immediately recognized Jesus as the miracle – working Messiah foretold in Scripture and would have repented. As it was, these unfortunate people were worse off than the proverbial blind hog searching for acorns.
Today the world is convulsed over the COVID – 19 pandemic. The things that people valued so highly have proven to be worthless. COVID – 19 does not regard social position, wealth, fame, or professions. Even Prince Charles and Boris Johnston have tested positive for COVID – 19. But while people are caught up in fear; meanwhile, God is doing great things throughout the world. Health care givers are sacrificing, ordinary people are doing great acts of kindness. While some people are dying from COVID – 19, there are also people who are recovering. God is still working; it is high time we paid attention! The people of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum had no idea that they were standing on the brink of eternity. Today, we are in a similar position; none of us has been guaranteed tomorrow. Joshua told the Children of Israel, “Choose this day whom you will serve.” Today we have the same choice. Jesus Christ came as a man, died for the sins of the world, and conquered death and the grave. Will you follow Him today?
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, today we are terrified of the possibility of death for us or for our friends and families. But you conquered death and the grave. We admit that we are sinners and are helpless. Lord, we cannot save ourselves. Save us, Lord, and help us to follow hard after you all the rest of our lives, however long or short they might be. In your Name, Jesus. Amen.
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