[Manny Varela]

MATTHEW 13 – REJECTED

“So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”  Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. (Matthew 13:57) 

The masses heard the words of the Lord Jesus. They witnessed his miracles; The lame became whole, the blind began to see, and the dead would be raised. How did these hearers respond?

“When they had heard these words, they marveled”…. After all, if you personally witnessed someone perform the inconceivable, what would you do? After they marveled and were amazed, Matthew writes that they “left Him (Jesus) and went their way.”

Sadly, this plays out today as much as it did when Jesus walked the earth. After all, how many times have we heard people claim that if God would only speak to them directly or if they could witness the son of God’s glory, for even a moment, they would believe and follow Jesus?

The reality is that it’s not enough to witness Christ to be converted. No, you must believe to be saved and be “born again.” After all, many witnessed Jesus’s words and ministry to only depart and go back to their lives apart from God. Why, may you ask? The truth is unsettling…because man inherently “loves darkness rather than light.”

CHALLENGE

I’m sure you are familiar with John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” But have you done something about it? Will you make Jesus Lord today, or will you do as the masses did and go back to your own way?

“Behold now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2

[Addison West]

The challenge in this passage is a powerful reminder that simply hearing about Jesus is not the same as truly believing in Him. Many people during Jesus’s time witnessed His miracles and heard His teaching, yet they still chose to walk away. That reality is sobering because it shows that faith requires more than curiosity or amazement, it requires a personal decision to trust and follow Him.

The message of John 3:16 reminds us that God’s love was demonstrated through the sacrifice of His Son so that anyone who believes in Him can have eternal life. The challenge is not just to acknowledge that truth, but to respond to it. Each person must decide whether they will accept Christ and allow Him to be Lord of their life or continue living their own way.

For me, this passage is a call to examine my heart and make sure my faith is genuine. It encourages me not to be like those who marveled at Jesus yet walked away unchanged. Instead, I want to respond with belief, obedience, and a willingness to follow Him daily. The reminder that “now is the day of salvation” shows that faith is not something to delay, it is a decision that should be made today.

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