“And from the days of John the baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force.” Matthew 11:12
Jesus is giving His testimony about John the baptist and his ministry and message.
From the day when John first appeared there had been a stirring. In the religious life of Israel which had become corrupt, there had come a new note, a disturbing something which convicted of sin of Luke 3:10, with the people saying, “What shall we do then?”
It is interesting to see how this same question is asked cf Acts 2:37 and 16:30 when men get under conviction no matter what the circumstances.
John the baptist, by the power of the Holy Spirit, really started something. And it was not just a flash and then to disappear, but it was the dawning of a new day, the bringing in of a better hope (Hebrews 7:19), something that would not disappear but would go on and on. And from the time of John until the time Jesus was speaking, this kingdom, which was not a worldly one, but was the implanting of heavenly ideals and requirements into the hearts of men by faith—this kingdom and the preaching of it had caused trouble and had been already the cause of much suffering. Indeed, John was at that time in prison for the kingdom of God’s sake, in prison from which he was not be released except by a martyr’s death. Surely the kingdom of heaven was in that day suffering violence.
The very violence of its opposers confined those who would press into it—those who really wanted to find it, who were impelled by a mighty urge, borne of a great sense of their need to disregard the leaders, the government, and who suffered and endured all else opposing them, in order to press in regardless of the consequences.
A new order had come. In contrast to the rituals of the temple, we have the fervor of multitudes, the pressing of men and women to Jesus, so that he was at times compelled to get away from them. Not just going through a form, but real pressing in. Picture those bringing the one sick of the palsy. Not being able to get into Jesus because of the crowd, they went to the roof and, removing the tiles, let him down in front of Jesus, something unheard of. Still, the desire in their hearts impelled them, and Jesus honored their faith by healing the man (Luke 5:17). And (Matthew 15:21) the woman following and crying after Jesus, and in the end hearing Him say, “be it unto thee even as thou wilt.” Then blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46) “crying the more a great deal” and getting the desire of his heart.
These scenes would have been impossible under the old law in Jesus’ day. But something new had come, something that had power to incite in its enemies a rage that was only satisfied with violence and the death of those it hated. And in those who were believing, it had power to send them to the jaws of lions, to martyrs’ deaths, and to shame and all sort of things that their flesh would naturally shrink from, and gave them such an importunity in seeking God that the very heavens were moved in their behalf, miracles were performed, and the Lord worked with them in mighty ways. They left their homes and went into all the world preaching the gospel.
Today, in spite of the lukewarmness of the church, we see that the gospel has lost none of its power, and its enemies realize that it still has power to sway men and convict of sin. Therefore, there is a returning in some lands to that violence which was evidenced in the days when the words of the text was spoken. May God grant that this violence on the side of the enemy may be matched with that violence and importunity which men and women had in days of old, that violence which God honors and that which the very gates of hell are not able to stand against, something born out of a sense of the greatness of the need.
The woman, those who let down the man through the roof, and blind Bartimaeus did not get that importunity overnight, but it was borne of a condition that had existed for a long time and had become unbearable. The woman, for one of her own family; those who let down the man, for one for whom they cared; and Bartimaeus, for himself. Some are only able to get stirred when something happened to them, others when it happens to those of their families, but here we have evidences of all three, and Jesus answered them all.
Just forms and ceremonies will not do the work, just a casual wishing will not do it either. But still now, as then, the kingdom of heaven is for them who press into it (Luke 16:16).
Thomas and Hannah Lowe in Colombia
Thomas Ernest Lowe delivered this message to assemblies in Maryland in the early 1930’s before leaving long-term for the mission field in Colombia in 1936.
Mr. Lowe, an able and zealous minister, seeing the great abundance of Gospel opportunity for North Americans and realizing the scarcity of that same opportunity for millions in South America, set out in the 1930’s for Colombia, to survey the spiritual landscape, and was joined there by his wife, Hannah. They worked together until Mr. Lowe, still a relatively young and most vigorous man, died in the capital city of Bogotá in 1941. Mrs. Lowe, vibrant in service to her Lord until her final days, died at Jerusalem in June 1983, having spent a year in the beloved City.