Jesus said to (Thomas), “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 NKJV.

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32 NKJV.

This is too beautiful not to share from You Are The Beloved by Henri Nouwen: “O Lord, who else or what else can I desire but You? You are my Lord, Lord of my heart, mind, and soul. You know me through and through. In and through You everything that is finds its origin and goal. You embrace all that exists and care for it with divine love and compassion. Why, then, do I keep expecting happiness and satisfaction outside of You? Why do I keep relating to You as one of my many relationships, instead of my only relationship, in which all other ones are grounded? Why do I keep looking for popularity, respect from others, success, acclaim, and sensual pleasures? Why, Lord, is it so hard for me to make You the only one? Why do I keep hesitating to surrender myself totally to You? Help me, O Lord, to let my old self die, to let me die to the thousand big and small ways in which I am still building up my false self and trying to cling to my false desires. Let me be reborn in You and see through You the world in the right way, so that all my actions, words, and thoughts can become a hymn of praise to You. I need Your loving grace to travel on this hard road that leads to the death of my old self to a new life in and for You. I know and trust that this is the road to freedom. Lord, dispel my distrust and help me become a trusting friend. Amen.”

And in our chapter, Matthew 11, I confess there are verses that I don’t understand. But I’m learning to wait with Him, Creator God, for understanding. After Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask Him, “Are you the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see. The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of Me.” v. 1-6. It’s hard to imagine what John must have felt. He knew he was sent to prepare the way for Jesus, the Son, and yet he is now in prison. Did he doubt his life’s work or why he was imprisoned? As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in king’s palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send My messenger ahead of you, who will prepare Your way before You’ (Malachi 3:1). Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” v. 7-15. In the notes below it said Or been forcefully advancing, for subjected to violence; and I confess neither yet makes sense to me…unless, and forceful people have been forcefully advancing it? I don’t know. The Father determined the set time the Son would come and who would prepare His way. Nothing stopped that. But too, Herod had John imprisoned, a violent raiding attempting to stop John? I don’t know. And Jesus continued, “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” v. 16-19. Our “wisdom” is fickle. And then Jesus speaks to the unbelief of those who heard Him and saw His miracles, yet no change toward repentance was found in them: “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. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you…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. Yes, Father, for this is what You were pleased to do…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. Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” v. 21-30.

My understanding that comes from me is flawed, changeable, like a reed swayed by the wind. Then consider all people living in their appointed times and the “wisdom” they choose to live by. No wonder we grow confused and disoriented when our wisdom isn’t enough. We are bombarded by lies every day. But there is Truth. Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him…And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in them. 1 John 4:7-9, 16. And that Truth is important. Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. John 17:3. Eternal Life.