09.16.08
Controversy Over the King – The Rejection of the Herald (Matt. 11:2-19; Luke 7:18-35)
Controversy Over the King – The Rejection of the Herald (Matt. 11:2-19; Luke 7:18-35)
We need to look back. In the previous lessons we looked at the authentication of Christ by His message and His miracles. Are we sure He had this authority? You betcha! He exercised it over and over again so those that were there had no doubt about it. He is The Savior, He is Sovereign! This brought some issues to the surface though. His rejection by the religious leaders broke out into the open over a running feud over the Sabbath Day controversies. What did Christ do? He revealed these leaders as false shepherds. That’s where we pick up with the rejection of the herald.
John was cast into prison by order of Herod Antipas, a little after our Lord began his public ministry (Matt 4:12) and after the first Passover (John 3:24). Word had reached him concerning the miracles Jesus had been performing. So he sent some of his disciples to ask Christ a curious question – are you the One who was to come, or should we expect someone else? So…some have postulated that John was having a crisis (or failure) of faith. What do you think?
Plummer states: John had had such convincing evidence that Jesus was the Messiah, that he could hardly doubt now. And if he did doubt, what use to send to Jesus? A false Messiah would not own that he was an imposter. More probably it was John’s patience that was failing, not his faith. He wished Jesus to come forward more publicly and decidedly as the Messiah. ‘If Thou do these things, manifest Thyself to the world.’ To do Messianic works and not claim the position of the Messiah seemed to be futile inconsistency.
Ah, if we are to mull this over in our minds, perhaps we can better see ourselves. After all, it’s been over 2,000 years…and we still cry ‘why do you tarry Lord?’ We’ve seen the miracles, experienced Your presence, have a hold of the hope of Your salvation, and carry burdens that we should put on You and not keep to ourselves – Marana tha! (1 Cor 16:22 In Aramaic the expression Come, O Lord is Marana tha) Perhaps we can better understand John’s frustration and impatience…
So what would Jesus give John as an answer? Jesus had no authentication to give John but what He had been giving to the nation. No secret handshake, no special word of encouragement. But Jesus did speak to the crowd that surrounded Him concerning John’s person and position. A tree planted and not moved by the wind (certainly not a reed), a man uninterested in seeking physical comfort or material goods (not in a palace). No, John fulfilled Malachi 3:1 and Jesus gives John the highest honor, a higher ‘position’ than anyone else had been given. Greater than any of the prophets!
Think of it. In the face of the rejection of John’s message and ministry, Jesus declares to the crowd that John fulfilled Malachi’s prophecy. He said in Matt. 11:14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. An angel had announced to John’s father, Luke 1:17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous — to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Wow…it was an ultimate stamp of authentication and reaffirmation of John’s place.
There is some controversy or continued discussion around verse 12. This verse seems to be dealing with the rejection of Christ and John rather than the reception given to them by the leaders of the nation. Why? Look at the analogy Jesus gives in verses 16-17. He likened the generation to children who desire to have their own way no matter what others do. Basically, the generation found fault no matter what was done or not done.
But in spite of the growing rumble and rejection of the truth Christ gave these folks, some still believed. These people became His children, and our brothers and sisters in the family. The truth of what He had been teaching was validated by the reception of His word on the part of some, and thus ‘wisdom was proved right by her actions.’
And us? Do we have various crises of faith or are we just impatient with the perception of the speed that God chooses to work in our world? Looking at the growing rejection of the world to His word and ways, how do we respond?
