As I was reading through Matthew I came across a verse that I have been pondering for the last couple weeks:
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.
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 the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.
Jesus is rebuking the cities where he did the most miracles because they had not changed their mind (repent) about the Kingdom and what Jesus was doing.
But the thing that I have been pondering is Jesus said that if the miracles that were done in Capernaum had been performed in Sodom they would have repented?!
Sodom is a famous city for their grotesque sin and they would have repented if they would have seen a level of miracles?
No Fire? No Brimstone? No wifey into a pillar of salt?
Why is it that miracles will cause a sinful city to repent?
I don’t know! If you have an answer please leave it as a comment below!
If I had to guess….
Miracles are a demonstration of a higher power. And I would say the miracles Jesus was doing in their city were of a truly high caliber; Probably deaf, blind, paralytics, maybe even dead people being raised. So when Jesus performs these types of miracles it causes an automatic gut check.
God is here…and I don’t know if I want him in my life or not.
And their decision at that moment is what Jesus was rebuking them for. They chose their own selfish ways instead of submitting to the Kingdom that he was demonstrating.
Why would it have cause Sodom to repent?
I don’t know if there was a demonstration of the greatness of God in that city? There probably wasn’t. If there were miracles in that city It would have been a declaration to that city that the One true God is here and he wants you to submit to him. And according to Jesus they would have repented!
Now…if you’re attempting to reach your city without a demonstration of miracles. I would ask why?
Jesus himself says that the way to reach a city, even a horribly sinful city, is to do public miracles.
So lets get out there and reach out city!
Many Blessings,
RK Castillo
