Unlike previous days, there doesn't appear to be a common thread running throughout both of these chapters. Both chapters, though, have a dominant theme--together, those themes point to the Kingdom of God.
The theme for chapter 9 could be described as "commitment". One of the first things we see is Jesus sending his disciples out to expand Jesus' ministry. The disciples didn't spend their whole time following Jesus around and waiting to see what he was going to do next. Instead, they are sent out to play an active role in the world. I cannot help but think about the Church while reading this passage. It is my opinion that we have far too many people who are content to stay as close to Jesus as they can and to never leave his side and engage the world in which they live. Part of being a disciple of Jesus is leaving the church and going out into the world. Throughout the rest of chapter 9, Jesus describes the costs inovlved with being a disciple. It is not exactly the nicest or prettiest picture. Jesus' message is in radical contrast to the ways of the world; those that go about proclaiming this message can expect resistance. They can expect, Jesus says, to be persecuted; they can expect to alienate family and/or friends because of their choice. It takes a deep commitment to Jesus to be a faithful disciple of Jesus. The question then becomes, "are we willing to make that commitment?"
Moving into chapter 11, Jesus talks a bit about the kingdom of God. John the Baptist, while in prison, is desperate to know if Jesus really is the Messiah. Jesus' reply gives us a glimpse of what the kingdom of God really looks like: the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the poor are not ignored. In short, the kingdom of God is all about restoration and healing and acceptance. The highest rank in this kingdom belong to those who know they are unworthy to be a part of this glorious kingdom; even John the Baptist is below these. There is little place in the kingdom, though, for those who witness the kingdom at work in this world and choose to ignore it. Imgaine, if you will, seeing the kingdom of God at work and refusing to allow it to impact your life. This is Jesus' charge against the cities in the last part of chapter 11; they saw Jesus at work and refused his message, the Good News of God's salvation.
How about us? How committed are we to the task of being a disciple of Jesus Christ and a part of God's glorious kingdom?
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