May 10 - Fashion Statements of the Bible

Matthew 11:20-28

Content: Jesus has just instructed his twelve disciples as they head out into the mission field. He has gone to Galilee, and John the Baptist, in prison, heard about what he had been doing. John sent some of his disciples to ask if Jesus was the 'one who was to come.' Our text is about halfway through his response to them.

Text:
20Then 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.[a] 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."

25At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
27"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (NIV)

Footnotes:
Matthew 11:23 Greek Hades
taken from www.biblegateway.com

I'm not exactly sure what the sackcloth was like in Jesus' day, but I remember the big burlap bags that my great grandpa received when he bought feed for his animals. They were very rough and scratchy, they had a large weave and they were the color of dirt. They smelled musty and dirty. I sure wouldn't want to wear it!

But in Biblical times this type of cloth was worn to show mourning or grief over death or disaster. It was also occasionally worn to show grief over sin. Sackcloth was almost always worn with ashes as the main accessory. In Jeremiah 6:26 it says that they rolled in the ashes. When dressed like this everyone knew that the person was in deep despair.

That's exactly when Jesus wants us to come to him, when we have heavy burdens and are in deep despair. We are to come as children, wide eyed and believing, and he will help to carry our load so we can have rest.