Matthew 11:25-30

Can we just all agree that babies are the best? It has been quite a few years since my kids were infants, but I still vividly remember their new baby smell, sweet smiles, and chubby little thighs. To this day, my joy quickly increases just being in the same room as a newborn. To be fair, I also remember the frequent feedings, the dirty diapers, and the sleepless nights. Babies are completely helpless; they rely completely on their parents for even their basic needs. Their humble state may be one reason they have a soft spot in my heart and a special mention in Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 11.

Let’s talk about Jesus’s prayer for a second (Matthew 11:25-28). I love hearing Jesus’s joy, His connection with the Father, and His ways revealed. This prayer in Matthew 11 is also located in Luke 10:21-22, where Luke introduces Jesus’s words with the statement, “In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit…” What a joyful prayer! He’s revealing a heavenly plan! God’s gracious will, His good pleasure! Jesus reveals who He is through this prayer!

One of the most joyful parts of this plan is to whom Jesus is revealing himself. Jesus reveals himself not to the wise but the infants. He chose to reveal Himself to the spiritually hungry, helpless, and messy individuals. I love how the Message translation explains this verse: “You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people” (Matthew 11:25). God was not looking for an impressive resume or distinguished family history, he was pleased to use the ordinary and child-like. “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27) Throughout Scripture, God uses the lowly, reveals himself to the weak, and conducts his redemption plan through the least likely vessels: Rahab the prostitute, David the adulterer, and Matthew the tax collector. God didn’t reveal himself to people for what they could do in their own strength; He revealed himself again and again to those who would show God’s power and glory through their weaknesses!

After Jesus’s prayer, He invites the tired and the burdened to come to Him. Not to work for forgiveness, righteousness, or worth, but to rest in Him. Jesus declared HIMSELF gentle and humble of heart, and He calls us to be like Him (Matthew 11:29). We don’t have to have it all together or have all the answers to come to Jesus; we just have to humbly come. Isaiah 53:11 says, “When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.” Jesus lived a perfect life to be the perfect sacrifice—to bear our sins. He died so that we could be forgiven. He rose again so that through Him we could have new life and a relationship with the Father. Jesus already willingly faced the anguish of our punishment. He just wants us to come to Him and surrender it all at His feet. Whether you are carrying the burden of sin, shame, grief, or stress; come as you are today, like little children submitting to the loving care of the heavenly Father.

• What can you joyfully thank God for today?

• What burdens do you need to bring to Jesus? Don’t miss this opportunity to pray and surrender that burden today.

Lord, thank you for your example of humility. Show me where I need to be humble like Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Author: Amy Fontenot