The Road To Recovery Series

There are many reasons why people come to Canada. Some come for economic prospects. Some come to be reunited with family that has preceded them, and some come to avoid brutal conditions in the land that they just left. A common story over the past several decades has involved those who travel to Canada by boat from countries like Vietnam to Sri Lanka, to avoid persecution and the past civil wars. They seek to recover their lives free from persecution and turmoil.

But why do people come to Jesus? Elsewhere in scripture we can understand the process from God's workings through election, regeneration, and drawing people unto himself (Rom. 8), but what about what can be seen from the human perspective?

In Matthew 11, Jesus speaks about the revelation of truth about how the Father can be known only through the Son. Now this special revelatory role of the Son is expressed in a direct invitation to find the solution to life’s problems by coming to Jesus (France, R. T. (2007). The Gospel of Matthew. The New International Commentary on the New Testament (447). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publication).

When someone has come to the end of the road, and they have no other options, what do they do? The Road to Recovery from thinking that we have life all figured out, to where God wants us: recognizing our own inability, exhausted and seeking rest, is the road to Christ. The path on this road is the path of: 1) Faith (Matthew 11:28a), 2) Repentance and Rest (Matthew 11:28b) and finally: 3) Submission (Matthew 11:29-30)

Seeking Christ on "The Road to Recovery", involves:

1) Faith (Matthew 11:28a)

Matthew 11:28a [28] Come to me, (all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest). (ESV)

Just as these words are found in Matthew alone, there is only one road to recovery from death to life. Come to me carries on with the thought that it is Jesus only who has access to the Father and to the resources of the Father. It is because He is the only one who knows the Father and because only those to whom He reveals the Father will have knowledge of Him that it is so important to give heed to his invitation (Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel according to Matthew (295). Grand Rapids, Mich.; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.).

Please turn to John 6

The object of faith is not a church, a creed, or a clergyman, but (Jesus said Come to me) come to the living Christ. Salvation is in a Person (MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Mt 11:28). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.) Notice as well he did not say, “Come to my teaching” or “Come to my miracles.” but “Come to me.” This is more than being impressed that He was a good moral teacher, or performed mighty deeds (Weber, S. K. (2000). Vol. 1: Matthew. Holman New Testament Commentary; Holman Reference (169). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.). The emphasis was on personal relationship, not on doctrinal content or ritual only (Utley, R. J. D. (2000). Vol. Volume 9: The First Christian Primer: Matthew. Study Guide Commentary Series (102). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.).

What then does it mean to come to Jesus?

John 6:35-47 [35] Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. [36] But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. [37] All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. [38] For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. [39] And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. [40] For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." [41] So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." [42] They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" [43] Jesus answered them, "Do not grumble among yourselves. [44] No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. [45] It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me-- [46] not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. [47] Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. (ESV)