24: Choose Who to Trust (Luke 7:18-35)

Growing up I had developed this idea that among the 6+ billion people on the planet, that God had ‘The One’ for me to marry. And it was my task to track her down. If that’s true, then I got sidetracked from the trail several times as a teenager. But finally, I found her. And now as we are about to enter into our 21st year of marriage I continue to see that I definitely got the better end of THIS deal! Tonya is the 2nd greatest gift God has given me: 1) salvation, 2) her, 3) my children

But since that time, I have been attempting to make sure I am bending my beliefs to fit the Bible, instead of twisting the Bible to fit my beliefs. That is humbling but worthwhile process. I have come to be convinced that the Bible talks about the TYPE of woman a godly man should marry and vice-versa, it doesn’t teach there is ONLY 1 person on the planet that fits that bill. So what I believed…was based on something other than Scripture.

Think through this one with me. If there is ONLY 1, is it possible you chose the WRONG ONE? (Please don’t nod if that person is sitting next to you).

If you choose the wrong ONE…that would mean your spouse got the wrong ONE too…and that would be YOU!

That also means that the people you were supposed to marry, married someone else

The person THEY were supposed to marry also married the wrong person & vice versa…which means you could have single-handedly just DESTROYED God’s marriage plan for all mankind!

But I want the Bible to say, "There's only 1 for me." It’s not about what I WANT the Bible to say, but about WHAT it DOES say. Are YOU willing to bend YOUR beliefs to fit the Bible, or will YOU bend the Bible to fit YOUR beliefs? How you respond to Scripture demonstrates Who you TRUST.

That choice, says Dr. Michael Brown, “will separate those who put God first and ask, "How can I fulfill His desires?" from those who put themselves first and ask, "How can He fulfill my desires?"

PRAY

As we have discovered in our study of Luke, Jesus has done some amazing things - healed the sick, cast out demons, & even raised the dead! And now a character we haven’t seen since chapter 3 emerges in Luke’s writing - John the Baptist.

Luke 7:18-19 (NIV)

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?”

Matthew 11:2–3 tells us that John was imprisoned when this occurred. Luke 3:20 tells us Herod locked him up because he was telling Herod to turn from his sin. So John’s sends his disciples to ask Jesus about His identity. But WHY? Hadn’t John already called Jesus ‘The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world?’ (Jn. 1:29,36)

Have YOU ever had a moment of doubt - when you wavered on something you really believed - so did John.

John was isolated in prison no longer able to pursue his purpose…and he had questions.

Luke 7:20 (NIV)

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?’ ”

Haven’t we already heard this? Why does Luke take the time & space to REPEAT John’s question through his disciples? In so doing, Luke emphasizes the importance of this question.

Is there any greater question about Jesus that needs to be asked?

“Are You the ONE?” Are You the ONE who will make all things right? Did I have it right when I called you, ‘The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world?’

Maybe John was struggling with His preconceived idea of the Messiah, and Jesus didn’t fit into his box.

Israel expected a political liberator, a King who would bring Israel back to preeminence. Why hadn’t that happened yet?

And if Jesus WAS the Messiah, why would He allow His greatest advocate - John - to be captive in prison. After all, Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1-2 & claimed it spoke of HIM:

Luke 4:18–19 (NIV)

18 “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, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

But Jesus didn’t set John the prisoner free.

And if the Lord’s favor meant political freedom…when was THAT going to happen?

So here’s the problem: If Jesus WAS the Messiah, He didn’t fit in their preconceived box.

Question: Has God ever done something different than what YOU expected or wanted?

So, HAS the Messianic age begun or not? Is He the ONE? This is a pinnacle moment in Luke’s writing. He wants to drive the answer to this question deep into the minds of his readers.

Luke 7:21–22 (NIV)

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.

Why is this persuasive? Beyond demonstrating incredible POWER, this is a fulfillment of what was littered through the Scripture. Remember how Jesus read from Isaiah 61 and then said, ““Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21). But many passages spoke of what was to come through the Messiah. For example:

Isaiah 35:5–6 (NIV)

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.

Further, Jesus spoke of miracles being performed on the lepers and the dead, “works of grace that are even greater than those that were promised by the prophet.” And John had a decision to make…it’s the same decision WE have to make. He had to answer this

BIG QUESTION: Will I trust the god of Culture or the God of Scripture?BIG QUESTION: Will I trust the god of Culture or the God of Scripture?BIG QUESTION: Will I trust the god of Culture or the God of Scripture?BIG QUESTION: Will I trust the god of Culture or the God of Scripture?

BIG QUESTION: Will I trust the god of Culture or the God of Scripture?

Jesus didn’t fit the culture’s expectations, but He DID fit the Scripture’s expectations. So John…had a decision…the same decision We have today to…Choose Who to Trust.

The miracles & teachings of Jesus fulfilled the Scripture’s expectations, but not the culture’s expectations…Jesus understood that and His next statement prepares people for the certain separation that will occur.

Luke 7:23 (NIV)

23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble [not offended - ESV] on account of me.”

Some will stumble (v.23) - they will get tripped up - precisely because Jesus doesn’t fulfill all their preconceived expectations. Paul writes that Jesus tripped up those who thought righteousness came by keeping the Law.

Romans 9:33 (NIV)

As it is written [combining Isaiah 8:14; 28:16]: “See, I lay in Zion a Stone that causes people to stumble and a Rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”

So too, YOU must Choose Who to Trust. You must ask the question:

BIG QUESTION: Will I trust the god of Culture or the God of Scripture?

Following Jesus will not bring the applause of all.

Many will be APPALLED that you will trust the God of Scripture - the One who judges sin and forgives the repentant.

Many will APPLAUD those who trust the God of Culture - the one who allows anything as long as it makes you happy and doesn’t supposedly harm others.

As it is becoming more and more obvious in our culture, the biblical Jesus causes many to stumble.

Luke 7:24–25 (NIV)

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.

The people didn’t go to John because of his talk of health, wealth, & temporary prosperity. He was NOT a reed swayed by the wind - an expression symbolizing a man who bends to popular opinion. John wasn’t a man who was worried about impressing other people. He was like a STIFF reed that refused to bend to man’s will. In fact, John sat in prison because he called King Herod out for his sin.

Luke 7:26–27 (NIV)

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.’

John was a prophet - one who spoke on behalf of God - speaking God's truth regardless of what it cost him. He is the one Malachi (3:1) had mentioned would come - the herald of the Messianic King. And then Jesus exalts John over all other prophets.

Luke 7:28 (NIV)

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.”

What an incredible reference on your resumé “It says here…Jesus thinks you’re the greatest guys who’s ever lived!”

Wow! Greater than Moses or Elijah! That’s incredible!

And to many of the religious leaders who thought John was a quack, this was a stick in the eye!

But there is something deeper here. As great as John is…in the kingdom of God…EVERYONE is greater than him! How could this be? How could WE be greater than all the OT prophets?

Here’s how: A Seat in Eternity is better than a Pulpit on Earth. As great as John was - the greatest prophet with the greatest task - pointing to the Messiah’s entrance to Earth - John would quickly exchange his great role on earth for the lowest position in eternity.

Luke 7:29–30 (NIV)

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.)

It was time to Choose Who to Trust

Many people had put trust in what John said. They KNEW they were sinners and prepared for the One who would bring an internal baptism - death to sin & new life!

Many of the religious leaders refused to trust this grungy guy in the wilderness who called people to prepare for the soon-coming Messiah - a Messiah who would bring judgment bring on adulterous in Israel. This certainly wasn’t WHO they wanted!

Then Jesus drops the judgment bomb right on their heads!

Luke 7:31-32 (NIV)

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.’

What an intriguing word picture Jesus paints! This is a picture of children playing in the marketplace after hours.

At first they want to play 'wedding'. When the pipe was expected to celebrate & dance...but someone would NOT play their game. That would be John. John and his disciples were playing 'funeral' - fasting, praying, & calling people to repent - and the people this generation didn't like it.

Later the 'children' decided to play 'funeral'. When the dirge was played, everyone was expected to cry & drag their feet in the dust..but someone would NOT play their game. That would be Jesus. They even got onto Him & His disciples because while John & his disciples fasted, Jesus and His disciples feasted (Luke 5:33). - Jesus and his folks were playing 'wedding' and their generation didn't like it.

Neither John nor Jesus one of them could satisfy the fickle people of their gene ratio They would not manipulate & control this Messiah nor His prophet….like a puppet.

In the movie Clear and Present Danger, Jack Ryan - played by Harrison Ford - confronts the President of the United States and refuses to be intimidated or pressed into saying something that is untrue. The President warns that Jack Ryan’s refusing to play by his rules will be destroyed while the President and his men get a slap on the wrist.

The President finishes his warning with this statement that speaks of George Washington’s escape from his enemy: It's the ol' Potomac two-step, Jack.

Jack Ryan responds: I'm sorry, Mr. President, I don't dance.

John did not dance & Jesus did not cry.

Luke 7:33-34 (NIV)

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.’

John was like the a quirky guy who smelled like dirt & hollered when he preached. He ate bugs & dressed like a mountain man. He wouldn't show up and the parties, spent lots of time fasting and alone, & certainly wouldn't have had a Facebook account. Some even thought John’s ability to draw other people was due to demonic power.

Jesus was the guy who loved to be around people. It seemed like He was always with people. He didn't fast, looked a lot like everybody else in town, and would have had hundreds of Facebook friends just waiting to read his next post. Jesus was always eating and drinking with others and certainly wasn't as strict as those who followed the Rabbical Rules.

Neither one of them could please the people. Lesson: You CAN’T please everyone!

Luke 7:35 (NIV)

35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”

Those children with wisdom consider evidence that Jesus presented to John when he asked, ‘Are YOU the ONE?” Wisdom’s children must Choose Who to Trust by asking…

BIG QUESTION: Will I trust the god of Culture or the God of Scripture?

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READ the Gospels. Don’t wait…schedule it…get your phone or calendar out right now…I’m serious…I’ll wait. Set an alarm or write a time to read from 1of4 gospels every day this week.

WRESTLE with Tough Teaching. You’re going to run into tough stuff and it’s okay not to like it…to struggle with it. But ask yourself this question:

BIG QUESTION: Will I trust the god of Culture or the God of Scripture?

RESPOND in Obedience.

A lady once told Dr. Howard Hendricks - a Bible professor, "Dr. Hendricks, I've been through the Bible 29 times.” Dr. Hendricks responded, "Wonderful Madam. And how many times has the Bible been through you?”