Question
There is no one greater than John
Luke 7:18-35
Key Verse 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.”
1. Read verses 18-20. When John’s disciples told him about Jesus’ work, why does John send his disciples to ask Jesus a question? (Mt 11:2) Why might this question be important for him?
2. Read verses 21-23. What is Jesus doing at that very time? (21) Why is Jesus’ work relevant to John’s question? (Lk 4:18, Isa 35:5-6; 61:1-2) How does Jesus reply to the messengers? (22-23) Why do you think it is important for anyone to not stumble on account of Jesus? (23)
3. Read verses 24-28. What does Jesus speak to the crowds about John? (24-28) Who is John and what is his mission? (26b-27) Why is John great? (27-28a) Why do you think the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John? (28b)
4. Read verses 29-35. Why do all the people and the religious leaders respond differently? (29-30) To whom does Jesus compare the people of that generation? (31-32) How do they criticize both John’s and Jesus’ ministry? (33, 34) How is wisdom proved right? (35)
Manuscript
Message
The good news is proclaimed to the poor
Luke 7:18-35
Key Verse 7:22
““Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard. The blind receive sight, the lamb walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”
The question for Jesus, which is “Are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else?” is one of the most important questions people can have. Indeed many people have been asking the question for centuries. The Jews think they have an answer. And their answer is ‘they should expect someone else”. Christians believe Jesus is the one who is to come. John the Baptist must have believed that Jesus is the one who is to come at first. But later he sent his disciples and ask the question.
Probably the reason he asked the question is the difference between John’s expectation and what Jesus was doing. John might have wondered, “Why is not my situation of improved? I am still in prison although the Messiah started to work. Where is the judgment of the Lord?” Indeed John the Baptist was beheaded even after Jesus started to work as the Messiah. John’s expectation was totally different from what Jesus was doing.
When our expectations and what God is doing does not match, we can also have questions. When we look at our realities it is hard to believe that the Messiah came 2,000 years ago and has been working since then. People ask questions, “Ever since Jesus came as the promised Messiah, nothing changed. The world did not improve. People are still evil, and it seems that evil increases all the more.” In addition, the ratio of believers to non-believers seems to shrink all the more as the world population increases. Indeed some Jews asked, ‘What did Jesus do? He did not do anything. Nothing has been changed.’
What can be our answer? What can be our proof that Jesus is the one who is to come and he is the promised Messiah? Today’s passage answers the question. My message has two parts.
Part I. Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard. (v.18-23)
Part II. Wisdom is proved right by her children (v.24-35)
Part I. Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard. (v.18-23)
Look at verses 18-20.
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?’”
Here the word ‘all these things’ means what Jesus has done until that time. It includes the healing of the centurion’s servant and raising up a dead son of the widow. John’s disciples told him about all of what Jesus has done. What was John’s response? Did he say “praise God!”? No. 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?”
His question shows he was confused. Once he proclaimed that Jesus is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Now he was doubting.
Indeed it is one of the most important questions for a man to ask to Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else?” because the answer for the question determines one’s eternal destiny and salvation.
To the question, Jesus did not answer directly saying, “Yes, I am he”. But rather he answered indirectly.
Look at verses 21-23.
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.”
Jesus answered the question by what he did, and what he did was supported by the Scriptures.
Why didn’t Jesus answer the question directly? Probably because they could still ask evidence of Jesus’ claim that he was the one who was to come even if he said, “Yes, I am”. Jesus knew his self claim did not mean much. He needed to provide the evidence. The evidence he provided was the Scripture. So Jesus said “The blind receive sight, the lamb walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”
And his answer is consistent with the Scriptures which described the work of the Messiah.
Isaiah 6:1-2a
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me, to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”
Isaiah 29:18
In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.
Isaiah 35:4-6
Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” 5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
According to the Scriptures what Jesus has done proved that Jesus was the Messiah.
But why was John confused? It is because his knowledge about Jesus was limited. These are two messages of John in the gospel of Luke.
The first one is:
Luke 3:7-9
7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
This passage reveals John’s stern warning against religious leaders who did not repent, and he preached the judgment.
There is another passage from John. It is from Luke 3:16-17.
Luke 3:16-17
16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Here, John talked about Jesus. He talked about Jesus’ greatness, and Jesus would baptize people with the Holy Spirit, and his judgment was around the corner.
According to what John said, there would be judgment against those who did not repent. But he could not see the judgment of the Lord when the Lord came.
Isaiah 6:1 talked about “proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners”, but nothing happened to him. He did not hear any good news. So he might have wondered and sent two of his disciples and asked, “Are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else?”
We may also wonder if Jesus is the really the Messiah, the Savior of the world, when we look at the reality of the world. It seems that the violence of the world increases all the more especially when we see what ISIS in middle east does. Recently they beheaded two innocent Japanese people, and showed it through videos. There was violence by Muslim extremists in France, killing many people including magazine editors. There are so much violence in Africa and India and Afghanistan against women. It seems the world is becoming more violent and dangerous place to live. So we may wonder where is the salvation Jesus brought if he is the Messiah, the Savior of the world? What did he do for the last 2,000 years?
When we look at our own problems, it does not seem that they are decreasing. As times goes by they may become harder and increase more. So we may wonder, saying to Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else?” “If you are the promised Messiah, and the Savior of the world, why my problems and troubles do not disappear?”
If we ask the same question to Jesus what could be Jesus’ answer? I believe his answer is the same. “Look at 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.”
Jesus knew believers could stumble on account of him. Jesus knew they could doubt whether he is the Messiah. But his answer is the same. His answer is based on the Scriptures which described the work of the Messiah.
Jesus said, “The blind receive sight”. How many of us receive sight from Jesus? I mean spiritual sight. Please raise your hands if you receive sight from Jesus? There are many evidence that Jesus is the Messiah if we look at what he has done based on Scriptures.
Jesus also said, “the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” All others are miracles such as ‘the blind receive sight, the lamb walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised.” But ‘the good news is proclaimed to the poor’ is different from all other miracles. And why did Jesus mention it instead of just mentioning miracles? It is because all the other miracles are evidence of the good news. They came as the result of the good news.
The good news is good news of the kingdom of God. “The kingdom of God” means ‘God is reigning as the King. It means God is the one who has almighty power over all and anything and everything. It looks like that the power of evil and violence seems to be the ruler when we look at around us. But the bible says that it is not the power of evil but the Lord who reigns.
And it is the good news because the Lord’s reigning over the power of evil has been given to us free of charge. Last Sunday we learned that Jesus’ compassion is our hope when we do not have any hope. The compassion of Jesus is good news because it is given to us free of charge. It has nothing to do with who we are or what we do. It is given to us by who Jesus is.
The same truth applies to the good news in today’s passage. The good news of the kingdom of God is that God is the true king who reigns over any power and authorities including the power of sin and death and violence, and most of all, he offered such good news to us free of charge. It is the news that Jesus has freed us from all and any powers of darkness, sin, and death once for all. Surely this is good news of great joy.
Obama said to his audience in his speech of the State of Union referring the news of economic recovery, saying, “People, This is good news!” But the good news Jesus proclaimed is the good news of all the good news throughout human history. That is Jesus has freed us from all the power of sin and death and all evil once for all.
Jesus said, “and the good news is proclaimed to the poor”. “The poor” do not necessarily mean financially poor people. The poor mean those who are humble enough to accept the good news which was proclaimed to them without any doubt but accept it with great thanks and joy. The poor are so blessed because they received the most precious gift all free of charge thanks to Jesus.
We see the world is full of violence and power of death. But what does the bible say? 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 reads, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Do you see darkness in your heart? Do you see un-forgiveness in your heart? Do you see hatred in your heart? Do you see jealousy in your heart? Do you see powerlessness in your life? You all have them, and I know because I do have them too. Now then where is the good news? Where is the good news when we look at our selves who are full of darkness inside? Where is the good news?
The good news is in the Scriptures. How then should we interpret all of darkness inside of us and all the violence and evil in the world? We should see them as fog which will disappear without any trace when sun rises. They exist like fog, but they have lost the foundation of their power. Their foundation, the root of their power, has been destroyed by Jesus.
What is the basis I say? I say it based on what the Scripture says.
The Scripture says we have been set free from any power of sin and death once for all through Jesus. But our reality shows that we are full of darkness. Which is true, our visible reality or Scriptures? Scriptures.
The trouble of John the Baptist came when he trusted his realities more than the Scriptures. John suffered and even was beheaded, but it was not given for punishment purpose but for the purpose of rewarding.
Believers and righteous people suffer also, but their suffering is not for the purpose of punishment but for the purpose of great reward. Indeed Jesus allowed John the Baptist to be beheaded for his great reward.
When the Messiah came he did not remove evil from all of men’s life practically. It will be a time when the kingdom of God will be fully revealed, the time of Jesus’ second coming. At that time all of evil will be completely wiped out even from our realities. But right now we have promises, the promises in the Scriptures that the power of death is broken once for all. And Jesus wants his people to believe the Scriptures rather than visible reality and live a victorious life.
It is like life in the wilderness for the Israelites after they left Egypt. In Egypt they were slaves for 400 years. But in the desert they were free. They were not slaves anymore although they might have suffered a lot from slave mentality which was deeply rooted in their minds and hearts and deeds. They were freed indeed, but in their practical lives they were suffering from slave mentality and many bad habits. But that does not mean they were not free. They were free indeed. If some of the Israelites did not believe they were free because of their sinful habits in their practical lives, what would you say to them? You would probably say, “You, fool! Don’t you know you are free?”
To those who lived in Egypt as slaves, the good news was ‘they were freed from slaves.”
Jesus freed us. And all of miraculous work, the blind receive sight, the lamb walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised is the evidence that God is the reigning king. The evidence of his reigning power appears in the form of all kinds of healing and restoration, including the resurrection of the dead. They are signs to show how much the good news is good. It is beyond man’s understanding. So the bible says ‘good news of great joy for all the people.’
Do you have darkness inside you? Do not lose heart. Christ has already won the battle for you, and you have been set free from the power of darkness. Do we see the world is full of violence and danger? Do not fear because the sovereign Lord reigns. When his time comes they will disappear like fog.
So how can we be sure that Jesus is the Messiah? What can be our proof that Jesus is the one who is to come? The answer is ‘Scriptures’.
Part II. Wisdom is proved right by her children (v.24-35)
Now look at verses 24-28.
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.”
In this part, Jesus highly honored John the Baptist as the greatest man among those born of women. But at the same time Jesus revealed the limitation of John the Baptist by saying “the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
John was greatest because he testified about Jesus right before Jesus appeared. But he is limited in his knowledge about Jesus and the kingdom of God. The least in the kingdom of God is greater than John because of the kingdom of God.
The same truth is revealed in Mt 13:17.
Matthew 13:17
“For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
Now look at verses 29-30. “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.)
“To be baptized by John” means ‘repentance’, because John’s baptism is the baptism of repentance.
Here “God’s way” refers to revelation of the kingdom of God through Jesus after John’s baptism of repentance. God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus, and Jesus came as the Messiah, and he did what the Messiah would do according to the Scriptures. That was God’s way. God’s way is to repent first and believe in Jesus. God’s way shows the importance of repentance, and it shows the importance of the kingdom of God.
“God’s purpose” to the Pharisees and the experts in the law refers to “God’s counsel”.
“God’s purpose” for them was to receive the kingdom of God through Jesus. But they rejected God’s purpose for them because they did not repent. Since they did not repent their sins their spiritual eyes were blind, and they could not see the goodness of the kingdom of God for them.
Finally look at verses 31-35.
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.”
Here the people of this generation include the Pharisees and the experts in the law. Since they did not repent their spiritual eyes were blind, and they only saw a demon from the prophet John the Baptist, and saw only a glutton and drunkard from the Messiah.
Most of all, they could never find anything good either from John the Baptist or the Son of Man. They were like people who complain. People who complain will complain even if what they complain is removed. They find another negative aspect and still complain again.
But Jesus said, ‘But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
Here, “the wisdom” may refer to the good news, the good news of the kingdom of God. It probably means God’s reigning through repentance and faith in Jesus.
In today’s passage the children of wisdom may refer to all people who acknowledged that God’s way was right. And wisdom’s children include the tax collectors. The Pharisees and experts in the law were not included although they were religious leaders.
In conclusion, what can be our proof that Jesus is the one who is to come and he is the promised Messiah? The answer is ‘Scriptures’. When we see Jesus is doing what the Scripture says the Messiah would do, we know he is the Messiah. So we have a choice. Do we want to believe reality or do we want to believe the Scripture? Depending upon what we trust we may stumble on account of Jesus or we may stand firm on account of the Scriptures.
One word: Good news is proclaimed to the poor
Manuscript
Biblenote
There is no one greater than John
Luke 7:18-35
Key Verse 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.”
Introduction
This passage is about John the Baptist, who sent his disciples to Jesus to ask who Jesus really is. Jesus recognized John’s work and his mission from God’s point of view. Although John is great and a true prophet, he is a friend of the bridegroom, but those who taste the grace of Jesus have a great privilege as the brides of Jesus by his blood, though we are the least in his kingdom. May the Lord bless us with the passage to adopt Jesus’ right view so that we may not be victimized by any distorted views, but acknowledge that God’s way is right and continue to serve God’s kingdom confidently.
1. Read verses 18-20. When John’s disciples told him about Jesus’ work, why does John send his disciples to ask Jesus a question (Mt 11:2) Why might this question be important for him?
1-1, Read verses 18-20.
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?’”
1-2, When John’s disciples told him about Jesus’ work, why does John send his disciples to ask Jesus a question? (Mt 11:2)
John’s disciples told him about all these things.
This passage begins with the disciples of John the Baptist reporting on Jesus' ministry. In the early part of chap. 7, Jesus healed the servant of a Roman centurion by His word. Jesus also met a grieving widow on her way to bury her only son. However Jesus touched the coffin, saying, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" The man came back to life and was given to his mother.
John's disciples must have been told of other powerful things such as Jesus' teaching and discipleship ministry. They had never seen such work.
When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples (Mt 11:2)
At that time, John was in prison. John had rebuked King Herod for he had taken his brother's wife to be his own. Instead of repenting his sin, Herod put John in prison. (Lk 3:19-20)
Being put in prison must have been hard for John and his disciples. Jesus could have done something for John to rescue him from Herod, and brought justice. But he did not rescue him; rather he continued to proclaim the gospel by going to Galilee. (Mk 1:14)
What Jesus was doing is what the Messiah is supposed to do according to the Old Testament. (Isaiah 61:1, 2) John wanted to confirm if Jesus is the Messiah to come. Or John would have intended to help his disciples who might have lost their faith.
1-3, Why might this question be important for him?
He had a sense of mission as the forerunner of the Messiah, so it was very important for him to know who the Messiah is.
At a time of struggling and doubt, John's disciples went to Jesus to ask this necessary question. “Was Jesus the one whom God promised to send into the world to save all peoples?” For these disciples, the answer would determine their life direction.
Likewise situations in our lives do not appear to be the way we would have expected. We face difficulties, hardships, and things we cannot understand even though we are struggling to please the Lord.
We may also face misunderstandings from loved ones, ministries that are stagnant, financial problems, struggles with our children, struggles with our health, struggles with our future direction, struggles with sins, and the list goes on.
When we are pressed with doubt, we should not complain about people or give up. Instead of focusing on ourselves or problems, like John's disciples who went to Jesus, we must also honestly come to Jesus in prayer and Bible study with the question, "Are you the one?" Receiving Jesus' answer will solve our inner agonies and solidify our devotion.
2. Read verses 21-23. What is Jesus doing at that very time? (21) Why is Jesus’ work relevant to John’s question? (Lk 4:18, Isa 35:5-6; 61:1-2) How does Jesus reply to the messengers? (22-23) Why do you think it is important for anyone to not stumble on account of Jesus? (23)
2-1, Read verses 21-23.
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.”
2-2, What is Jesus doing at that very time? (21)
At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.
John's disciples witnessed firsthand what Jesus was doing. To answer their question, Jesus started with what they were observing.
2-3, Why is Jesus’ work relevant to John’s question? (Lk 4:18, Isa 35:5-6; 61:1-2)
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, (Lk 4:18)
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. (Isa 35:5-6)
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn (Isa 61:1-2)
Jesus did not directly answer their question, but he pointed out what was happening in his ministry. He phrased it in such a way that would remind John's disciples what the Old Testament said about the work of the Messiah, especially in the book of Isaiah.
In short, Jesus was doing what the Bible already said the Messiah would do. (Lk 24:44) Jesus is the one who was to come.
John's disciples could have complete confidence about this because Jesus was doing what God had exactly foretold about the Messiah.
2-4, How does Jesus reply to the messengers? (22-23)
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. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
The name of the game here is whether or not it was for John's disciples to accept it. “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”
Jesus' way of working is not always what we might expect. But let's not fall away because of our own expectations or way of thinking. Jesus is the very one. We may suffer from
unexpected things but Jesus is worthy of any hardship we may face.
Thus verse 23 is a great promise of our Lord Jesus Christ who can not contradict himself.
Those who accept Jesus as the one are most blessed. Even though John was in prison and would lose his life there, he was blessed as long as he held on to Jesus and His words by faith.
For we live by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrew 12:1-2)
Jesus wanted them to take their attention off of themselves and their own situation and focus their attention on Jesus. Praise Jesus!
2-5, Why do you think it is important for anyone to not stumble on account of Jesus? (23)
Some people may have their own idea of the Messiah, but they may stumble because Jesus may not fit to their own messiahship (i.e., Judas Iscariot). We must humbly accept Jesus according to the word of God by giving up our own idea of messiah.
“Just as it is written, the righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:17b)
May the Lord bless each of us to not fall away at the time of our time of crisis but continue to devote ourselves to one to one and disciple making ministry for Bible America and World Mission!
3. Read verses 24-28. What does Jesus speak to the crowds about John? (24-28) Who is John and what is his mission? (26b-27) Why is John great? (27-28a) Why do you think the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John? (28b)
3-1, Read verses 24-28.
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.”
3-2, What does Jesus speak to the crowds about John? (24-28)
When John's messengers left, Jesus turned his attention to the crowd. Jesus must have known that there was a misunderstanding about John the Baptist for he was in prison. So Jesus asked them questions about John. “'What did you go out into the desert to see?” “A reed swayed by the wind?”
To Jesus, how these people viewed John was related to how they would view him. We like celebrities. However they fade away. When they fade, we don't think much about them anymore.
If the crowd treated John like a celebrity, how would they treat Jesus to whom John was pointing? If they doubted John's ministry because he was in prison, certainly they would doubt Jesus' ministry when he went to the cross.
It was important to make the connection between John's ministry and Jesus' relevant and at the same time help their faith to rest on the unchanging facts of how God has worked and continues to work.
People today can be characterized as self-absorbed, present-focused, and feeling-centric. It is good to be concerned with our own present spiritual condition and feelings are important. But unless we learn to see how God has worked in the past and is working now in the world and the world to come, our faith remains shallow and selfish.
We better look up to God who is the Almighty God and the Sovereign Lord. We stop thinking, "It's about me or my own kingdom," and start thinking, "It's about God and His eternal kingdom."
We thus find direction in the "big picture" of God's work and history.
3-3, Who is John and what is his mission? (26b-27)
John was more than a prophet in the wilderness and he was in fact a forerunner of the messiah who prepared the way for Him.
How did Jesus connect John's ministry to his own? “This is the one about whom it is written: 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.” (27)
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. (Malachi 3:1)
God would send a messenger right before he would send the Messiah in order that people’s hearts were prepared through his message.
That messenger was John. John pointed people to Jesus. This meant that Jesus is the Messiah. The whole point of John's ministry was to turn people to Jesus.
If they missed out on this, they would miss out on Jesus. But if they connected the Old Testament prophecy with John the Baptist, the only conclusion would be “Jesus.”
3-4, Why is John great? (27-28a)
He knew his mission in God’s work and he carried out his mission to the end as a martyr.
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.” (28a)
Jesus praised John the Baptist as the greatest man born of women. In this way, Jesus validated his ministry as one of the milestones in God's redemptive history.
John's ministry of repentance prepared people's hearts. John's ministry was necessary to help even the most hardened of sinners to realize their need to get right with God.
3-5, Why do you think the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John? (28b)
John, though he was great, belonged to the age of the old covenant, which was mainly preparatory to Christ. The least new covenant saint has a higher privilege in Christ as a part of his bride (Eph 5:25-27, 32) than John the Baptist, who was only a friend of the bridegroom (John 3:29).
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Eph 5:25-27)
This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” (Eph 5:32)
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.” (Jn 3:29)
Also, we can say, “he who is the least” means “whoever humbles themselves like a child” would be regarded as the greatest in the kingdom of heaven as even greater than John the Baptist. (Mt 18:4)
Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 18:4)
4. Read verses 29-35. Why do all the people and the religious leaders respond differently? (29-30) To whom does Jesus compare the people of that generation? (31-32) How do they criticize both John’s and Jesus’ ministry? (33, 34) How is wisdom proved right? (35)
4-1, Read verses 29-35.
(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.) 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.”
4-2, Why do all the people and the religious leaders respond differently? (29-30)
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.
All the people, who humbled themselves, had been baptized by John and accepted Jesus’s word, however, the religious leaders were proud and had not been baptized by John, so they rejected God’s purpose for themselves.
Likewise we see that there are only two different kinds of people: those who acknowledge that God's way is right and those who do not. God is sovereign and almighty. He always accomplishes his will in his own way.
4-3, To whom does Jesus compare the people of that generation? (31-32)
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,
Jesus compared them to children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other.
4-4, How do they criticize both John’s and Jesus’ ministry? (33, 34)
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 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.’
Many people, in their childish pride, still refused to acknowledge that God's way was
right. They had in their own mind what they wanted and expected from the Messiah.
No matter what God did to change their mind, they refused. They used whatever excuse they could find in order not to repent.
4-5, How is wisdom proved right? (35)
“But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
In contrast to the rejection by the foolish critics, spiritually wise persons could see that ministries of both John and Jesus were godly, despite their differences.
Those who have repented of their sins, received Jesus' death and resurrection for the forgiveness of their sins and have been born again, prove that God's wisdom in salvation is right.
The children of God who pass through life's trials with faith in Jesus, also prove that God's wisdom is right by the fruit of their lives.
In conclusion
God used John and Jesus differently for his redemptive work. Although John was great and a true prophet, he was a friend of the bridegroom, but he or she who tastes the grace of Jesus, has a great privilege as the bride of the lamb, Jesus by his blood, though he or she is humble and the least in his kingdom. May the Lord help us to be God’s humble children so that we may acknowledge that God’s way is right. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” (Eph 1:18)
One word: The one who is the least in the kingdom of God