18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written,
“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’
28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)
31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,
“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’
33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
John the Baptist’s disciples reported the things Jesus had been doing to him (John had been jailed by Herod, Luke 3:19-20). John sent two of his disciples to go to Jesus and ask Him if He was the one who they were expecting (the promised Messiah) or should they still be looking for another? At this point, it seems that John has doubts, even less faith than the centurion perhaps. John’s messengers ask Jesus if He is the one. That very hour Jesus performed a range of Messianic miracles. He healed many people of their diseases, plagues, and evil spirits. He restored the sight of the blind. Not only did Jesus perform many miracles but He told John’s disciples to report all that they had seen and heard. Jesus’ response was a reminder to them of Isaiah 6:1-2 and that His miracles were a confirmation that He was the Messiah. Jesus then reminded John through a gentle rebuke that we are blessed if we are not offended to the point of turning away because of Jesus.
Jesus then turned to the crowds and commended John. John was not one who was easily swayed. He was not one dressed in luxury or who lived like a king. John was correctly identified by the people as a prophet. He was not only the last of the Old Testament prophets but also the one who was the forerunner of the Messiah as written about in Malachi 3:1. If John was the prophet who prepared the way for the Messiah, and Jesus had performed all the miracles expected of the Messiah, then the only logical conclusion was that He was the Messiah. Jesus complimented John and said that no one was greater than John. And yet Jesus declared that even the least of those in the kingdom of God will be greater than him. Being a prophet was not as great as being part of God’s kingdom. Even the least in the kingdom will have a greater spiritual capacity than John the Baptist. There was a divided response to what Jesus said. Those who had been baptised by John agreed and recognised that God was right. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected John’s message, the kingdom being offered to them, and God’s plan of salvation. Because the kingdom was being offered to the nation as a whole, the leaders’ rejection set them on a path to national judgement and the offer of the kingdom being revoked at that time.
Jesus then compared the response of the religious leaders to children calling each other in the marketplace complaining because others wouldn’t respond to their music. They were unhappy no matter which kind of music they played. They accused John of being demon-possessed because he didn’t eat bread and drink wine. But then they accused Jesus who attended meals and ate and drank (Luke 5:29-30) of being a glutton and a drunkard and a friend of tax collectors and sinners. There was simply no pleasing the religious leaders. But Jesus proclaimed that those who made the wise choice of listening to John and following Jesus would be shown to be wise.
Like John, we might have doubts. This in and of itself is not a bad thing. God will not be offended if you examine the evidence in order to gain more certainty of your faith. Remember that’s the primary reason Luke wrote his letter. But if we expect Jesus and God to meet our own standard then we are going to be disappointed—just like the religious leaders. Those who are wise recognise that God is God and we are not. As the creator, He gets to set the rules and the way things work in His universe. He even told us that His plan would seem foolish to human wisdom (1 Cor 1:25,27). Are you complaining and expecting God to do things your way? Or are you a child of wisdom?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Solomon Builds the Temple: 1 Kings 6