Christ's Messiaship Confirmed
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
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 was 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 was 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 cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”
24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert 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 experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
31 “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 flute 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.”
Introduction
Introduction
How often have you wondered about Jesus, and the truthfulness of his claims? Have you ever had your doubts about the faith that you profess?
Doubts in our life in terms of what we believe are a normal part of our lives. We are always going to have moments of uncertainty and doubt.
The text under consideration today shows us that even John the Baptist, the very forerunner of Christ, had his own doubts. But in this passage, John will bring his doubts to the Lord, and he will be reassured by Christ.
Essentially, Christ will go on to confirm to John that he was indeed the Messiah - the promised one that was to come.
As we consider this passage this morning, I really want to consider under three main headings how Christ’s Messiahship is confirmed.
By His Works
By His Forerunner
By His Rejection
Firstly, then, let us consider Christ’s Messiahship confirmed...
1. By His Works (vv.18-23)
1. By His Works (vv.18-23)
The scene is set for us in the first two verses of our passage. We read in verses 18-19...
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 was to come, or should we expect someone else?”
We must begin by considering those opening words of verse 18, which state that John’s disciples “told him about all these things...”
The first thing that must be asked as we consider this situation is, what exactly were they telling John? Within the context and flow of Luke’s Gospel, it is most immediately the miracles that Christ had just been performing.
In Luke 7:1-10, we considered together that account of the faith of the centurion whose servant was lying desperately ill. The Centurion was a Gentile man that Jesus commended for his great faith. This was a Roman soldier. In the Jewish mind, this was hardly the ideal candidate for the miraculous intervention by God. But Christ had healed the sevant in a powerful way.
The next account, which we considered last week, was that Jesus raised the widows son from the dead, even as he was being taken to be buried. We saw this in Luke 7:11-17. The word of this resurrection certainly spread all over the surrounding areas. The good news of Jesus had spread far and wide. The word was getting out.
But in addition to these teachings, perhaps the disciples of John also told him about the sermon on the mountain side. This was the great sermon wherein Jesus conveyed to his listeners the Kingdom ethics. The people marveled at the teaching of Jesus, and no doubt, even reports of this teaching had gone to Jesus.
In fact, based on what we’ve already considered previously, it’s very likely that the disciples of John were watching him closely and reporting everything they learned from him.
At this point, we read that John called to of them to himself, with the plan of sending these disciples out to Jesus in order to ask him a very important question. Before we get to the question itself, note that there were two men sent. This was probably in order to ensure that he could establish a matter on the basis of at least two witnesses.
Now, let us recall also that at this very time, John was imprisoned. Luke doesn’t remind the reader of this at this stage, but he’s already mentioned it back in chapter 3...
19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
And so that’s where he is as he’s sending these two disciples of his out.
But we must now consider the reason for John sending them out… We read in our text that he sent them to ask, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else...”
Now, if you’ve been following along carefully in our study in Luke, you must consider this question to be somewhat perplexing.
Remember that even from before his birth, John was affirming that Jesus was the Messiah. At the mere appearance of Mary before Elizabeth, with both of them pregnant, John had lept in his mother Elizabeth’s womb.
And then, in that very visit, Elizabeth, the mother of John, had declared Mary to be the mother of her own Lord. In other words, Elizabeth recognised the exalted state of Jesus before his own birth.
And then we have the account in Luke 3 where we read of John in the process of preparing the way for the Messiah to come. As the people came to John, they wondered if he was the Messiah that was to come. But in...
16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
If you then cross over to John’s Gospel, John himself had pointed the people directly to Jesus as the Messiah...
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”
What a profound statement by John!
Now, keep in mind that John had not yet by that stage been imprisoned. In other words, he testified concerning Jesus before Herod put him in jail. He told others that Jesus was the Messiah.
We also have that entire account in John 3:22-36, where both Jesus and John are baptising disciples, and John’s disciples bring the report to John about the fact that Jesus is getting more disciples that John… And his response?!
He must become greater; I must become less!! (John 3:30)
BUT NOW!! Now he’s sending his own disciples to ask Jesus.... look, are you the one that was to come, or should we be expecting someone else?!
And so this begs the question… What is happening in John’s mind?
Very evidently, he’s become concerned. He’s having doubts about all of this. Sitting in prison is giving him plenty of time to think and mull over things. And he’s becoming uncertain in his mind.
Probably foremost in John’s mind, as it was in many of the other people was, this man Jesus doesn’t fit the common expectations very well.
Recall, that as John had proclaimed the coming of the kingdom, and had called people to repentance, he spoke in very strong terms about what would happen if people failed to repent. Consider Luke 3:9...
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.”
And then verse 17...
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.”
That was the expectation. Judgment, power, sorting out the good from the bad… And now, John sits in prison, wondering if Jesus is really who he thought he was.
But if the question is raised in his mind, at least he doesn’t just write Jesus off without first enquiring and trying to get some clarity on all this. And so he sends his disciple to Jesus in order to find out if he’s got this right.
Application...
We are often confused by the ways of God. We don’t see things and understand things as we ought with our limited understanding. But friends, we need to be careful not to try and create and fabricate a version of God, a manner of working, a way of going about things.... to such an extent that we miss the work of God right in front of us...
Looking back to our text, we see in verse 20, that these men go to Jesus...
20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’ ”
These disciples of John approach Jesus, and present him with the question. An in the verses that follow, we find Christ’s response. But as we will see, Jesus does not give a direct yes or no response. Rather, Jesus will speak about that which he is doing - the works that he is doing. And on the basis of these works he will lead John to draw the unavoidable conclusion...
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 cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”
Even as these disicples of John approach Jesus, he is going about the very business of healing people, and performing these powerful miracles, along with proclaiming the Gospel of the kingdom. These works that would have been evident to them formed the very basis of his response.
But keep in mind, these works were not even truly new to them. After all, they had taken word to John in prison about what Jesus was doing. It was this very context that led John to send his disciples to Jesus.
But again, the reason is the incorrect, preconceived notions about the anticipated Messiah. Because of this, they seem to be blinded to the reality of Jesus being the Messiah.
And so, what Jesus does is he takes them back to the Old TEstament Scriptures, and he demonstrates to them through quoting their Scriptures that he is precisely what was promised and foretold. He connects the dots between what God had promised through his prophets in the Old Testament, to the work that he was performing in his own day.
Look with me at various instances in the prophet Isaiah (there are more…)
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.
19 But your dead will live;
their bodies will rise.
You who dwell in the dust,
wake up and shout for joy.
Your dew is like the dew of the morning;
the earth will give birth to her dead.
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.
19 Once more the humble will rejoice in the Lord;
the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to preach 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,
In saying what he did to the disciples of John, he was in essence telling them to consider the prophet Isaiah, and what had been foretold of the one that was to come.
What would be the signs that would accompany his coming?
How would the Messiah’s coming be demonstrated in this world?
And now, compare what I’m doing with what was said!!! Compare what the Scriptures teach, with what you now see in front of you.
Having done this, he then makes that statement in verse 23 that sounds almost like one of the Beatitudes… Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.
But as Jesus says this, he is really speaking these words as a caution, or at least a challenge to the people. All that Jesus was doing was done in plain sight in front of the people. All that he was doing was foretold in the Scriptures, and he was performing those works which were foretold concerning the Messiah!
Blessed now is the one that sees and believes… and does not fall away because they are so full of their own preconceived notions of who Jesus is to be and what he is to do.
The people had created a notion and picture of who they thought Christ would be… and it was at the very least sorely lacking!! In particular, Christ’s humility, his care for the poor and needy; his working on behalf of even the Roman soldiers - Gentiles… this seemed to be out of place with the expectations of the people.
But man’s expectations are often wrong.
Application...
We are also called to believe based on the Word of God and all that he has done.
So often, we create in our own minds these expectations of reality.
If you become a Christian, your life is going to be good, and easy.
If you become a Christian, suddenly you will be blessed.
If you become a Christian, you’ll have an amazing wisdom to discern everything in the Scriptures without any shadow of doubt.
If you become a Christian, the church will be perfectly united in the world, with no divisions, because Christ is in His church.
All kinds of expectations are raised in our own minds based on our own inaccurate perceptions and desires.
We need to say - what does say in the Scriptures? And blessed is he who does not fall away, but rather who obeys God!
This event then leads Jesus to use this as a teaching opportunity for the crowds around
him. We thus consider secondly, Christ’s Messiahship confirmed...
2. By His Forerunner (vv.24-28)
2. By His Forerunner (vv.24-28)
At this point, Jesus turns his attention to the crowds, and he will proceed to use the context of John’s question of who he is, to tell them about who John is.
But in doing so, he is doing a very important thing… He is in essence proclaiming John the Baptist to be the forerunner that was sent ahead, and thus, by implication from that, the fact that he was the one for whom the way was prepared...
In verse 24-25 we read...
24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert 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.
Jesus is now confronting the crowds with their purpose for having gone into the wilderness where John had been preaching and baptising.
Now, keep in mind that the crowds had heard the question that had been brought from John. As John’s disciples asked Jesus the question concerning who he was, it is likely that the crowds may have started to have some concerns about who Jesus was. After all, John had pointed them to Jesus as the One that was greater. And so, Jesus is addressing the crowds about John himself.
He asks them what they went into the desert to see. The word “desert” in verse 24 is not so much to a geographical location, as it is a reference to the prophet Isaiah.
3 A voice of one calling:
“In the desert prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the wilderness
a highway for our God.
Immediately, Jesus is showing to them that they went to this desert / wilderness area based on the prophetic word of God that was being fulfilled… we’ll see this as we unpack Jesus’ question here.
He then asks… did you go to see a reed swayed in the wind. The most likely point of the question is this… did you go all the way out in large crowds to see something as simple as the reeds along the river being blown about in the wind? Of course not!!
Some have suggested that the reed swayed by the wind refers to John himself. Was he a man who vascilated to and fro between opinions? Well there again, he certainly wasn’t. He faithfully called for repentance without wavering.
Given that the answer for the first question is a resounding “No”, Jesus goes on to ask in verse 25… “what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes?
Now, we know very well that John was hardly the most well dressed of people.
He wore a coat made of camel’s hair, and he wore a belt of leather, and he ate locusts and honey. He was hardly living the life of luxury. And Jesus rightly reminds the crowds, you didn’t go to see someone dressed in the latest fashion and designer apparel. If you were looking for that, you would have gone to the palaces.
But you went out into the wilderness. So what did you go out to see, I ask you!?
A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet!!
In other words… you went out into the wilderness because it was clearly evident that there was a man speaking from God. All of you heard about this man. You knew and were well aware of the crowds that were going to him, and the recognition that was given to him as a prophet, calling people to repentance.
But, says Jesus, he was more than a prophet!!
Meaning, he was not merely a man speaking on behalf of God, as there had been in times past. Rather, he came as one who was bringing fulfilment to the revealed will of God. He came as a prophet fulfilling prophecy!
Verse 27 of our passage...
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.’
Again, Jesus takes the crowds back to the Old Testament prophets, and declares the fulfilment of the prophets in their midst. He directly quotes Malachi 3:1, that famous passage that foretold of the forerunner of the Messiah.
And in so doing demonstrates the greatness of the prophet John and the ministry that he did. He is telling them, this was indeed the one prophesied of. And thus, when John pointed to Christ as the one who was to come, they ought to listen.
The extent of this greatness of John is clearly portrayed by Jesus in verse 28 of our text...
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.”
When Jesus says that there is no one greater than John, he is obviously excluding himself for comparison purposes. Luke himself, having written the Gospel, has already clearly outlined in the opening chapters how far superior to John Jesus was.
Jesus’ point is thus, here is a man with a very high and noble task. John was superior to any ordinary prophet, in that he was ushering in a new era, the time of a New Covenant to be made by God with his people.
But included in Jesus statement is another that is one of the most beautiful statements concerning participation of ordinary people in Christ’s kingdom. He says, “Yet, the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he...”
Jesus is not in any way demeaning John by this statement. He’s just said how great John was.
His point is that participation in the Kingdom, to become a citizen of Christ’s kingdom, renders a person among the most blessed. One commentator writes this...
Luke Comments
The main contrast in this verse involves the contrast between human greatness and membership in the kingdom of God. Even being the greatest prophet is less important than being a lowly member in God’s kingdom (cf. 11:27–28). Membership in the kingdom is more wonderful than being the greatest of human beings.
Do you realise that to be a member of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is the greatest, honour, joy and delight?! To submit to Christ in repentance, and to confess Him as Lord, brings you into the very family of God, and brings you under the Fatherly care of God; and gives to you an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
What a glorious reality!!
We must wonder at ourselves sometimes, why we become so overwhelmed with any lack or any rejection in this world, when we truly know and understand our glorious position in Christ.
This is not said to elevate ourselves in our own estimation; but rather, to elevate the grace and mercy of God, and the very character of the Almighty, that would see it fit to bestow such blessing on the unworthy.
All glory to His name.
As Luke now continues, he outlines the responses of the people to both Jesus and to John the Baptist.
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 experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
We must keep in mind the account earlier on in the Gospel of Luke, where the people were going out to John in order to be baptised. All kinds of people, even the tax collectors, were going out to John and being baptised.
Recall that John had impressed upon his hearers the importance of repentance from a sinful lifestyle, and turning to a life that produced fruit in keeping with the professed repentance. And so that was the message. And those that heard - properly heard and responded - were baptised, thus acknowledging that the way of God was right.
On the other hand, the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purposes. By rejecting the message of John; by refusing to confess their own sins and demonstrate their repentance through John’s Baptism, they were essentially rejecting the ways of God.
This the leads Luke to the next section in terms of the words of Jesus. And we will consider this under the third heading, that Christ’s Messiahship is confirmed....
3. By His Rejection (vv.31-35)
3. By His Rejection (vv.31-35)
Luke has recorded these instances with Jesus and John the Baptist. And with this as a context and a background, he continues to show what those are like that reject the ways that have been set out by God.
In verse 31-32, Jesus says...
31 “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 flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.’
The very words that Jesus uses here to introduce the subject are striking. He takes the words that would have been well-known and familiar to the Jewish people, as recorded in the prophet Isaiah.
18 To whom, then, will you compare God?
What image will you compare him to?
25 “To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
The reality of those words was that God could not be equated to anyone or anything. God was highly exalted, and there simply was no equal to Him. Nothing could compare with him.
The sad reality of the religious leaders, was that there was something to which they could be compared and likened, and it was hardly a flattering comparison.
Jesus says that the leaders are like children sitting in the market place and calling out to one another. The picture is one of a group of children that have all gathered together, and they’re arranging to play games with one another.
But as they get into these games, none of the children is happy with what’s being played. This group wants to play a game of a wedding ceremony. But the other group says that’s no fun. That’s too lively. That group says, let’s rather play a game of funeral… the other group says that’s too solemn.
And so the squabble begins. Everyone is board - they want to do something. But no one wants to do what the other party wants to do, so all they end up doing is fighting and arguing among each other. They cannot come to a consensus.
Probably this doesn’t sound all to unfamilir to those who have more than one child…!!
But Christ likens the people of that generation to people like this. They’re never happy. They can’t be satisfied. They say that they want God’s kingdom to come, they want to see the Messiah. They long to see the works of God, but do you think they’ll be happy when he works??!!
Verses 33-34...
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 a man who abstained from just about everything… even normal food. He ate locusts and honey - he was the epitome of abstaining from just about everything. If you wanted a highly religious man that would abstain from the pleasures of the world - here was John.
But the people didn’t want to know anything about him.
They say instead that John has a demon. Imagine that - the spokesperson of God - a prophet - the forerunner to the Messiah - but they say that he has a demon!!
On the other hand, Jesus came into the world and associated with those that society said were evil and wicked. He came eating and drinking (wine by the way.... not just water or grapejuice - he drank wine). He didn’t see the need to abstain from good food and drink. That doesn’t mean he over-indulged. But the people used this as a means for accusing. They rendered him guilty by association.
They say of him… “Here is a glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners...”
Now, let us be sure that the biggest problem that they had with Jesus was the fact that he associated with these sinners. This really worked them up. They thus tried to find fault, and included the ideas that he was a glutton and drunkard…
But here is the point.... Nothing was good enough for the people. Always a problem!! The simple reality was that God’s messengers were not dancing to their tune. They wanted messengers who would sing their song, agree with their ways, support their views and message… And neither John nor Jesus fitted the mould that they had made.
The method was different in each. But the message was the same. And they didn’t want to hear that message!! Rejection of the Messiah.
But let us be sure, that even this was serving as a confirmation of that which God had spoken.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by men and despised by the people.
7 This is what the Lord says—
the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel—
to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation,
to the servant of rulers:
“Kings will see you and rise up,
princes will see and bow down,
because of the Lord, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
Finally, we read in Verse 35...
35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
Simply meaning this… those who will submit to the teaching of God will truly have hearts and lives that are transformed by the Gospel. Wisdom’s children are those who will take to heart the message proclaimed. And they will respond in faith.
Application / Conclusion
Application / Conclusion
Do we take the message of the kingdom to heart? In other words, have we heard the message of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, and have we responded in faith?
There are many today who refuse to submit to Christ, or will not fully submit to the Gospel and to Christ, because they take issue with some part of the Gospel.
Others will abandon the faith at some point, because their circumstances in life are troublesome, or because the culture around them is teaching something contrary to the message of the Gospel, and they cannot go against the prevailing teaching of culture.
What is your attitude towards Christ? Have you heard the message of Christ, and so responded in humility before Him.
Ultimately, wisdom will be vindicated by all her children.
30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
I want to ask this morning, is your submission to Christ manifest in a life that is transformed, and is being transformed. The manifestation of true wisdom in the lives of human individuals brings peace and joy to their own hearts, is a blessing to others, and glorifies God.
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,
Are you found to be walking in wisdom - in a fear of God, through submission to Him, and faith in his son?