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We are told that Johns disciples went and told John all these things like the dead being raised at Nain and of His many other miracles. We must remember that John the Baptist preached repent for the Kingdom of God is about to arrive. The reason John could not understand what was happening in Jesus ministry is that he expected the Kingdom to come the same as Most Jews. He understood that Gods Christ would bring in the end and at that time there would be judgement for those who had refused Gods Christ, Jesus. He saw it very much in the way we see the last day before God establishes and brings in the age to come, which is the Kingdom of God. That is why he sent his disciples to Jesus to ask Jesus if He was the one who is to come, or should we look for another? He wasn't sure and had to find out what was going on, as the judgement of the wicked wasn't happening and neither had he heard of people being baptised with the promised Holy Spirit.He had the vision of Danielle, where after all the worldly kingdoms were destroyed, that then the Kingdom of God would be established over all the earth forevermore. Before Jesus gives the answer, we read again that at the time they asked Jesus the question, that many were being healed of many diseases and plagues and evil spirits were cast out. Also sight was bestowed on the blind. Mighty miracles of God never seen before were performed before their very eyes. Again these were all things many hoped for in the age to come which was "The Kingdom of God" Then we are told that Jesus answered Johns disciploes to tell John what they had seen and heard. The blind receive their sight,the lame walk,lepers are cleansed ,the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have good news preached to them. Blessed are those who take no offence at me!!!
Okay so that was His answer to John!! But what did Jesus mean ? and how did Jesus intend John to understand? What we have here and why Luke, includes this in his gospel is also for us to understand that the Kingdom which John expected had indeed come, but Jesus needed to reinterpret the events and Kingdom to John and also to us. Jesus was quoting Isaiah 35 where in the kingdom the deaf hear,the blind see and so on. Jesus is explaining that these things were only expected to happen when Gods redeemed entered Zion. But they are happening in the now before their eyes and fulfilling what Isaiah spoke of in the coming Kingdom. So the "THEN" is happening in the "NOW". The powers of the age to come were happening before their very eyes in this evil age. Jesus was indeed the Christ who rescued Israel from her enemies. Israel was delivering from sickness,the Devil and sin before their very eyes. So Jesus message to John is yes I am the one, no don't look for another, but yes, the Kingdom is arriving in a way you never expected. The Kingdom is now but not yet and yes John, all you've said was right, but its outworking isn't as you expected!!! This is clearly the meaning of what Jesus meant for John the Baptist to understand. We too must take note of this reinterpretation of the Kingdom if we are not to fall into error. The Kingdom is now but not yet.!! After Johns disciples left, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John the Baptist. Jesus asks them the question, what did you go out to see?, when you went to John in the region of the Jordan. Many or most in the crowd had been under John the Baptists ministry. They knew the Kingdom was about to come after the one who comes after him arrived. He asks the crowd did you go out to see a reed shaken by the wind? a man clothed in soft clothing? For behold those who are gorgeously apparelled live in luxury in Kings courts. What indeed did you go out to see? a Prophet? Jesus then confirms John as a prophet of the most High God. However Jesus says John is more than a prophet because John is the one written of in Malachi 3 and Isaiah who prepares the way for the Lord to come before the terrible judgement and salvation beforethe day of the Lord. He goes on to praise John the Baptist saying there has been none greater from among all men, but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. When they heard Jesus vindication and approval of John they justified God,having been baptised with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves not having been baptised by him. The interpretation here is quite simple. After Jesus vindicated and justified John the baptist , the people justified God for they saw that what John preached was happening and coming to pass before their very eyes. When it says they justified God they are saying God has been true to His message. But the Pharisees and lawyers because they did not believe John rejected Gods purpose by not been baptised . The Pharisees and lawyers were saying that God wasn't been true to His promises in His word by not been baptised into Johns message. Jesus continues preaching and picks up on the issue of the lawyers and Pharisees when He says to whom will I compare the men of this generation. Jesus is referring to unbelieving Israel in the like of the scrtibes and Pharisees. Jesus likens them to children in the market place calling to one another.Because children usually respond, he is saying how strange it is that unbelieving Israel does not respond. When we piped for you you did not dance, and we wailed and did not weep!! they in otherwords are giving an inappropriate response to Gods message. What is more they give an inappropriate response to Gods messengers. Instead of welcoming John they slander him saying that because John the Baptist has come eating locusts instead of bread and also not drinking wine,they insult Gods messenger by saying he has a demon. Also when the Son of Man ie Jesus comes eating and drinking, they say look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Yes wisdom is justified by her children. So however Gods messengers came, these unbelievers in Israel would slander and oppose them no matter what they did. The material which follows on from all this is to demonstrate the point Jesus has just made about the Pharisees. |
