Waters of Life

Biblical Studies in Multiple Languages

Search in "English":

Home -- English -- Luke -- 050 (The Delegation of John the Baptist, Jesus' Answer, and His Testimony of the Baptist )

This page in: -- Arabic -- ENGLISH -- Indonesian -- Russian

Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson

LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke

PART 3 - JESUS' MINISTRY IN GALILEE (Luke 4:14 - 9:50)

10. The Delegation of John the Baptist, Jesus' Answer, and His Testimony of the Baptist (Luke 7:18-35)


LUKE 7:24-30
24 When John’s messengers had departed, he began to tell the multitudes about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously dressed, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much 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 “For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer, yet he who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism. 30 But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves.

Jesus did not spare John the venture of faith, for it is the act of faith that justifies, and not repentance knowledge and godliness. Christ loved his forerunner, and showed respect for him openly. He said that the Baptist was not like a reed shaken by the wind, but hard toward the proud and sinful, strict against the weak and proud, and harsh toward the adulterous king. He pierced their hearts. John was the true harbinger, and faithful guard to his nation, who called all to repentance.

John did not only speak with his mouth, pressing on his hearers heavy burdens which he did not bear, but he lived what he said, and denied himself. He did not give way to ease and comfort, nor did he seek pleasure in the midst of the sin of his people, but repented instead of them all, wore clothing of camel’s hair, and lived on locusts and wild honey in the wilderness. Thus he was the embodied call to repentance.

Nevertheless, John was not only the greatest prophet in the history of mankind, but was also more important than the leaders and priests of the Old Testament. He surpassed Moses, David, and all philosophers and founders of religions in the world, for he was theForerunner of the Lord immediately before his coming. He prepared his way, and cultivated with the power of a divine angel, the hearts of the people that they might be prepared to accept the sowing of the gospel. Christ bore witness to his power, and confirmed that he prepared his way, and lived in faithfulness, humility, and power. This is the high praise, which Christ gave to John the Baptist. Would that we hear, at the end of our effort, a warm commendation for our faithful service from Christ who has been raised from the dead.

In relation to the kingdom of God, Christ made clear to his hearers, that he that is least among those born of the Holy Spirit is greater than John, who is the greatest of all those that are born of women. It goes without saying that the believers of the New Testament are not in themselves better than John. Moreover they cannot do any good of themselves. However, God became their Father through Christ’s reconciliation, and the Holy Spirit made them partners in eternal life. In fact, if you believe in Christ, you will become, by grace, greater than a prophet; i.e. you will become a child of God with all the rights and power given freely to you. But you are also called to participate in Christ’s sufferings, to deny yourself, to bear your cross everyday patiently, and not to doubt your Father’s love which cares for you at all times.

Multitudes of sinners confessed their sins openly during the baptism in the Jordan. They bowed down before God’s judgment, confessing that they deserved destruction, and asking forgiveness only for the sake of grace. As for the teachers and scribes, they trusted in their own righteousness and pretensions, rejected John’s baptism, and did not enter into the redemptive plan of God. They hid their sins inside themselves, thinking that their good deeds brought God’s blessing on them forever. On these grounds, they set aside God’s plan of grace, and turned the people against John and Jesus, so that their misleading teaching should not set aside the law; so that the people may remain caught in the net of their deception.

LUKE 7:31-35
31 “To what then will I liken the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children who sit in the marketplace, and call one to another, saying, ‘We piped to you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned, and you didn’t weep.’ 33 For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drunkard; a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Wisdom is justified by all her children.”

Christ likened the hardhearted rulers and elders of the people to stubborn children who invite others to play, and then quarrel with those who do not dance in tune with their flute, assuming that they alone are right. When the ascetic John demanded worthy repentance and weeping, the lawyers rejected his call, for their Pharisaic flute was tuned to rejoicing in keeping the law. They said John was a demon, when he called them to repent. And when Jesus the complete Man came and called men to the joy of grace, living an ordinary life in the spirit of his kindness, loving everyone, and merciful to sinners and evildoers, the lawyers hated him. His love surpassed their teachings, and his righteousness came to them with grace from God, and not from their hypocritical works. They called him a reveler, and friend of thieves. If John and Jesus had kissed the hands of the rulers of the people and did what they demanded of them, they would have received great honor; but they called all men to repentance. Therefore the rulers of the people felt indignant about the Lord’s call and closed their minds and hearts against it. They were like stubborn children who do not obey their parents’ call.

Yet all those who were prudent gained from John and Jesus the greatest wisdom, which intimates seeking the Lord, hating sins, and being freely justified by Christ. He who likewise responds to God’s wisdom becomes filled with the power and will of our heavenly Father, who is All-Wise. Are you worthy of the kingdom of the Lord, or do you look like the stubborn children who ask others to dance in tune with their principles?

PRAYER: O Lord, I am not worthy to be your child. But you guided me with your gospel into repentance, sanctified me with the blood of your Son, and gave birth to me again of your Spirit. I thank you with all my heart, and ask you to release my thought from the bondage of the law, in order that I should not reject or judge anybody, but love all in your Holy Spirit.

QUESTION 59: Why did Jesus call John the greatest among all prophets and those that are born of women? Why is he who is least in the kingdom of heaven greater than John?

www.Waters-of-Life.net

Page last modified on March 22, 2017, at 11:04 AM | powered by PmWiki (pmwiki-2.3.3)