Tom Mount – November 17, 2024

 

Scripture reading: Luke 3:1-3, 19-20

 

John questions Jesus

18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

  • Why might John have doubts that Jesus was the “One to come?” Any personal reasons? Any theological reasons?
  • “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard” – assure him that the things the prophets had predicted of Messiah are being done by Jesus.
  • “Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me” – i.e., “who continues to trust in me even though I don’t meet all their expectations.”

Jesus questions the Jews

24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’

28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

  • John was among the greatest people ever born. But every person who is “born again” is “greater:” more privileged. John lived in the age of promise; we live in the age of fulfillment.

Jesus rebukes the disobedient Jews

31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:

“‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.’

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”

  • “this generation” – geneás tautes, important term in Luke (cf. 9:41; 11:29-32,50-51; 17:25; 21:32): the current generation.
  • “like children playing…” – The people superimposed their own qualifications onto both John and Jesus. John was too pious. Jesus was not pious enough. They rationalized their rejection of them both for opposite reasons.
  • This fulfilled Simeon’s prophesy about Jesus (Lk 2:34). True of us too (2 Cor 2:16).
  • “wisdom is proved right by all her children” – the tax collectors and sinners show wisdom in choosing John and Jesus.
  • Do we sometimes superimpose our expectations on God?

Takeaways

 

What is God saying to you in this text? Are you in the kingdom of God? Do you pre-judge God’s servants and discount their messages just because they are different from what you expect or prefer?