Day 191: Are you satisfied? – Luke 7 vs 24 – 35

24-26 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? 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. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet! 27This is the one about whom it is written: ‘“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.” I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John. 28 Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.’

29-30 All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptised by John. But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptised by John.

31-32 Jesus went on to say, ‘To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the market-place 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.” 33-34 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, “He has a demon.” 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.’ Luke 7:24-35 New International Version

There are times when God does things in a way which puzzle us and which wouldn’t have been our first choice. The man known as John the Baptist was languishing in a dungeon, yet here was Jesus able to do amazing miracles. Surely Jesus could have rescued John. I wonder if John felt that God had forgotten him. But we see from verses 24-28 that was not the case. What was the glowing testimony Jesus gave concerning John in vs 27?

John had been given the valuable task of preparing the way for the arrival of the Messiah. In that sense he was the most important of anyone ever born, including the great prophets of old. But what then could Jesus mean in vs 28?

I suspect it's because John was the last of the great prophets who lived BEFORE Jesus went to the cross and was wonderfully raised again. John had said to people. “Look, here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” But you and I know all that it actually took for Jesus to blot out the sins of all who believe on Him. It's not that any of us are better than John – we just have a fuller picture to tell to others.

Most of the people listening to Jesus that day were glad to hear him speak so kindly and well of John - but not everyone! (vs 29-30). Many of the religious leaders had not taken kindly to John's criticism of their hypocrisy, and now they didn't like what Jesus was saying either. And so Jesus likens them in vs 31-32 to stubborn children saying 'Don't wanna play that game', no matter what game was suggested. I guess that's something we've all experienced or seen.

But, as we see from Jesus' words, it's not only children who behave like that. Adult's can also be hard to satisfy. And this is very true when it comes to excuses for not believing the gospel message, or not wanting to even attend Church. Some will say the Bible is not intellectual enough, others will say it's too complicated. Some won't go to one church because it's 'too boring', but won't go another one because it's too 'happy-clappy'. We see some of this attitude in vs 24-26 where Jesus asks them what they were expecting when they went out to listen to John's preaching. Some were disappointed even in the clothes he wore. Hopefully, we will be those who fall into the category Jesus speaks of in vs 35.

People who are satisfied with God's wisdom and the way He does things will show it in their lifestyle. They will remain as faithful and true to God as John the Baptist did, even in prison.