Are you a Pharisee, or Faithful?
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· 10 viewsAre we Pharisees or Faithful? Do we seek Christ, or the world? Are we rejecting the fulness of the gospel because of worldly ideas? Just as with the OT Jewish people, when we seek our own ideas for how the gospel is to be packaged, and what the message of the gospel is, we become as blind as the Pharisees. We must let go of our misconceptions about Scripture and embrace the message of Christ in faith.
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(Read Luke 7:18-23)
I. John’s Question (Luke 7:18-23)
Would you agree that, in the face of difficulties, it is easy to lose track of our faith? To begin to question our beliefs?
It was no different for John.
At this point in his life, John is at an all time low. He has lived a life of self-denial, for the Lord’s sake.
Mark tells us :
Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
This clearly was not a man who desired the “riches of the world.” His sole purpose in life was to bring Glory to God. He had devoted his life to proclaiming God’s love to the people, and pointing them toward the Messiah, and yet...
Here he is in prison. Not only that, but he was there — not because of any “wrongdoing”— but because of his faith.
How many of you would say that you would be “ok” with being ticketed, arrested, prosecuted, and imprisoned simply for practicing your faith?
Is it any wonder that John sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus: “Are you the One?”
But, that’s not all that’s going on here....
You see, something prompted John’s question.
The disciples of John reported all these things to him. So John summoned two of his disciples
John’s disciples had apparently been “hanging around” Jesus.... They might have even followed Him for a bit as He traveled.
In the narrative leading up to John’s question, Luke tells us that Jesus healed the Centurian’s servant.... And that He had just raised a widow’s son from the dead in Nain.
These are the things that John’s disciples reported to him. This report is what prompts John’s question.
Now, why would that be?
Why would this report prompt John to ask, “Are you the Messiah? or Are we to wait for another?”
The question seems almost out of place for John.... I mean, wasn’t it just a short time before this when he was proclaiming “Behold the Lamb of God!...”?
Let me “insert” this thought here --- Could it be that this part of John’s story is meant to reveal a truth to us?
You see — Sometimes, we can get caught up in the ideas of the “Church” leaders of our time.... sometimes, those big name leaders — those ones we see as being so “spiritual” and “educated” — can bring ideas to the table that we get caught up in, and they aren’t necessarily true.
That is some of what is happening here.
John — like the Pharisees and other religious leaders of the time — expected the Messiah to come in as a “conquering king,” but.... That is not what Jesus was.
Instead of a conquering king.... a warlord who would destroy the Romans and free the Jews from their oppression and abuse, John is presented with a Messiah who comes in grace and mercy.
Not only that, but He is sharing that mercy, not only with the Jews, but with the enemy! He is healing and having compassion on the very people who are oppressing God’s people! How can this be the Messiah?!
So.... John sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus about this.
You see.... We like to say that it is just those Pharisees and “religious” leaders who denied Christ. In fact....a lot of people will tell you that this passage is about the difference between the “common” people and the Pharisees.
But, let me tell you, it is easy for us to get caught up in the “distractions” and “religious ideas” of this world, and to “miss” what God is trying to do for us!
But....Christ does not leave us there. If we come to Him with our doubts, with our fears, and with our questions.... He gives us answers.
Jesus had just then cured many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind.
I love this! John’s disciples come to Jesus, and they ask John’s question.... which, by the way, I am sure they were curious about as well.... But, Jesus doesn’t even acknowledge the question!
He simply turns and continues to perform healings and spiritual deliverance in their presence.
How would you like that? You come to the “Rabbi”… to the pastor… and ask a question, and he just ignores you and goes about his ministry! I believe most of us would leave that church.... bad mouth the preacher… and go find someone else to follow....
But notice WHY Jesus did this....
And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them.
Jesus didn’t just answer them, He gave them a witness to carry with them....
Have you ever wondered why God would “allow” you to face difficulties, pain, even loss? It is in those times....that if we will look…we will find a testimony of faith.
What Christ gave the disciples was a testimony. He could have simply answered them with “Yes, I am the One.” But he knew they needed more....
Look at what He tells them: “The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have [received] good news.”
These are not idle words.... Nor are they a simple accounting of what they have witnessed....
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;
John would have known this prophecy. Jesus was giving him something solid to stand on. He was telling John, “Have faith, prophecy is being fulfilled, all the signs are there.... Yes, I am the One.”
You see.... this is not about religion....it is about faith. Christ’s concern is that John will not lose faith. So, He gives John a witness in this world, directly from scripture.
Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
That word — “Stumble” — Greek “skandalizo” is translated many ways in various translations. The word itself refers to “falling into sin.” Jesus’s concern is that John (and others) would turn away from the faith because of “religious” views.
That is what was causing John’s doubt here. He had taken his eyes off of Christ, and was looking at the world around him. If God was good, If God loved him, If he was doing God’s will, then how could he be in prison? If this really was the Messiah, then why did He let this happen to His servant? Wasn’t the Messiah prophesied to come and deliver us from this oppression? Isn’t that what the rabbi’s, priests, Pharisees have taught all these years?
The questions are understandable, but here is the lesson...
When we let the world distract us from God’s perfect love and mercy.... We lose!
I think that is why we so often fail to see…to experience…resurrection power in our lives..... We have taken our eyes off of Christ’s love and mercy, and placed them on “worldly” ideas about who Christ is…who we are…and what the Church is supposed to “look” like....
Would you agree that we sometimes fall prey to mis-teachings in the church? That sometimes we get the wrong idea about who Christ is?
Sometimes, we even look for churches to attend and support, based on those “bad” ideas.... amen?
Think about it.... How often do you see a conference filled with speakers who pastor small churches? Why?
The world tells us that the reason their churches are small is because they aren’t good leaders.... or they aren’t “connected” with God’s vision.... and so, they cannot bring insight to the rest of us.....
There is danger in that mindset. When we begin to believe everything the “mega” church teaches…because “they must have it figured out”..., we can fall into the same thing that caused the doubt in John.
Look at what Jesus does next..... This isn’t just about John.
When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?
What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who put on fine clothing and live in luxury are in royal palaces.
What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’
I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
Who are we coming to see?
Are we going to the church we attend because of the Pastor? Because he dresses well…is an amazing, charismatic speaker? Because they have all sorts of fancy programs? They have a lot of activities....kids…youth… A fancy building.... Why do we go to the church we go to?
We should be there for God, amen?
Here is a good litmus test.... Ask yourself, why do I not go and worship with that little church down the street.... you know the one..., the one with only 15 members, a run down building, and no children’s program....the one that only plays those “old hymns”....the one that the pastor wears a t-shirt to preach....?
You see.... Way too often we get our eyes set on what the world says is a successful church....a successful ministry.... a successful “religious” life..... and we lose sight of God in the process.
Look at what Jesus says: (lk 7:24-26)
It is not about the packaging....its not about the program…its not about messenger…it is about the message!
Look at what Jesus tells the people:
This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’
I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
Notice that last phrase: “The least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
This is not the first time Jesus has said this.
Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.
I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
The least in the kingdom is greater than John, those who believe will do greater things than Christ.... Why? How?
Because of the resurrection. We have been given His power… through faith.
We do greater things than Christ because of faith! Do you see it? Jesus had divine power....we do not.... therefore, our works are greater because of our faith in Him!
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Do we truly believe that?
Christ’s words here are just that. If we have faith, we can do anything! We can move mountains! If we have faith.....
Think about it..... How great is it when Christ healed people? How great is it when He raises the dead? Now, how great is it when those things happen through the prayers of His people?
Do you understand that those “miracles” happen through us, not because WE have power, but because of our faith in Him?
(Hacksaw Ridge example — main character, Desmond T. Doss)
Doss would not have been able to do what he did if he had not held to his faith in God, but because he did....
Look at verse 29-30.
Luke acknowledges that the believers… those who had been baptized by John....believed and agreed with Jesus’s words, but the Pharisees and experts in the Law, didn’t… Why?
Because it didn’t fit their idea of what made a good church…a good prophet…and a good message.
Let me tell you, it is not just the “Pharisees”.... it is not just the preachers....it is not just the “educated” theologians who get caught in this trap.... People do also.
For every mis-lead preacher.... for every bad theological idea....there is a group of people who believe it.... Why?
Because we are broken. We look to our feelings, our ideas, our reason above the word of God.
Don’t believe me? Look at what Jesus says next.
“To what then will I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like?
They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not weep.’
For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon’;
the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’
Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
How do you like that description of us?!
How many of you like being called a “child”?
Yet, that is what we are....
Have you ever watched kids on the playground? It is not a pretty sight.
They are obstinate, selfish, demanding their “own way”.... That their own “ideas” are better.... that things have to be done their “own” way.... it doesn’t matter what anyone else wants or needs, its all about them.
Let a group of kids play long enough…especially without adult interference…, and things will turn south.
That is what Jesus says the people are like. They are obstinate, selfish, each demanding their own way, and crying and complaining that the others are “doing it their way”..... They reject Biblical truth in favor of their own.... Their “feelings” and “comfort” are more important than what Christ, or even God, have to say....
One commentator says it this way:
“The [people] are like children who stand sullenly on the sidelines and refuse to play wedding or funeral” (Ralph Earle) because its not being done the way they want it....
Sound familiar?
Way too often.... Christians....the Church.... in this world looks just like the Pharisees. We act just as Christ describes here.... Stomping our feet.... whining and complaining.... Condemning our brothers and sisters because they aren’t doing it our way!
We praise the work of one pastor or church, because they “look” they way we want them to look, and speak the way we want them to speak, while we condemn others for not being like us.....
Look at verses 33-35 again.
For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon’;
the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’
Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
Jesus makes it clear..... It is not about the package..... It’s not about how beautiful our church is.... it is not about how well the pastor dresses, or how charismatic his/her preaching is.... It is not about how popular the idea is.... or how exciting the “program” is..... NONE OF THAT MATTERS!
It is about Christ!
It is about what He can do THROUGH us when we place our faith in Him.
So, I ask you again.... “Are we looking for a ‘worldly’ messiah, or are we looking for Christ?”
The truth is, we will look for one or the other.... Whether we like it or not.... whether we realize it or not..... Every single time we visit a church…hear a message....talk about scripture… we will either become a Pharisee, stamping our feet and demanding our way.... rejecting the truth of scripture because it doesn’t “Feel” good, or.... we will place our trust in Christ, and receive the message He has for us.
Now.... that does not mean that we blindly accept whatever message is preached to us. We must “weigh it against scripture.”
We must reject the ideas of this world, and embrace the message of Christ, through faith.
Look again at Verse 22.
And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them.
Christ came, healing diseases, curing plagues, freeing us from spiritual oppression, and opening the eyes of the blind....
You do realize that “blindness” is more than physical. Christ’s healing in this area is in light of all the others.... The whole reason for Christ’s “miracle” healings is to open the eyes of the spiritually blind.
We can be physically healthy, but spiritually blind. That is what Christ is teaching us here.
When our eyes are set on the world....when our faith is in worldly ideas and concepts.....when we seek what fulfills our own selfish ideas about God and the Church, we become spiritually blind..... We become “blind” to the work of Christ.... and in doing so, we lose it all....
Faith opens our eyes.
Christ is proclaiming “Don’t lose faith in me. Don’t lose faith because I do not fit your mold. Don’t lose faith because I don’t seem to be saying what you want to hear.... Stand strong.... let go of your ideas, and place your faith in me.”
We have been given the greatest gift we can receive in the resurrection. We have been given power.... we have been given freedom..... we have been given New Life!
Now, that is something to celebrate! If you have accepted Christ.... If you have asked Him into your heart.... If you have turned your life over to Him.....
Then you have been given a “second chance”..... You have been given New Life!
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
BUT..... The only way we can live that New Life is to let go.....
We must let go of our preconceived ideas and expectations for Christ AND for His Church, and allow Him to “deconstruct” them so that He can reconstruct a Biblical view in us.
Let me tell you this — There is absolutely nothing more powerful....more freeing....more life-giving....then a Christian living in the fullness of the resurrection life!
The question is, will we embrace it?