040 Luke 7:24-35

John The Baptist Pt. 2

Last week, the Big Idea and take away was “how do we deal with doubt”. Review poll from study. John the Baptist was a mighty man of God, and as we’ll see tonight, according to Jesus, the greatest human prophet to ever walk the earth, and yet in John’s present situation, there were some things that were not clear, that brought him to a place of doubt, not unbelief, but an unsure place. So he asked Jesus….so we came away with ask Jesus…walk by faith…and doubt your doubts, another words apply your skepticism, critique, and uncertainty not on that which is known, (God’s character, God’s love, God’s ways) but on that which is unknown which is causing you to doubt. Don’t trade the things you don’t know for the things you do know.

So tonight, Lord willing we will finish up John the Baptist Pt. 2 and have some great take-aways to consider, and apply.

Lets pray.

24 When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts.

Jesus is saying, “John ain’t no wimp.” He didn’t shake at the political pressure or religious pressure of his day. He wasn’t afraid to stand up for what was right…he didn’t live a life of luxury like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. The best seats, the best food, the best greetings by the people. He didn’t care about man’s approval, only God’s approval. He wasn’t  “living the dream” by man’s standards,” but he was living a life of obedience before God.

Prov. 29:25, “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.” (NLT)

Are you more concerned about what people think about you or what God thinks about you?

Are you “fearful” or “fearless?” You’ll know by how you respond when confronted with doing the right thing or simply fitting in with the crowd. John didn’t care.

26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written: ‘ Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’

Not only was John “a” prophet, but he was “the prophet” spoken of nearly 400 years earlier in the Old Testament Book of Malachi. Jesus is quoting Malachi 3:1 which speaks about John. Prophecy is a huge part of the Gospel of Luke. Prophecy is speaking something before it happens, and having it happen just as it has been written, 100%! That is how much you can trust the Bible, 100%, there is no error, no fudging, no room for mistakes. Many men and groups will make predictions, and they will come and go, but the word of the Lord will always come to pass.

28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

So not only was John a “prophet,” and “the” prophet predicted by the scriptures to come, but he would be, according to Jesus, the greatest prophet of all time. “Born of woman” means human being, because Jesus is also called a Prophet and there is no one greater then Him. The greatness of John was that His message was to introduce the Messiah, the savior to the people who had been waiting for Him. The greatest prophet, had the greatest message, which is Jesus!

We can talk about a lot of things, but if you don’t meet Jesus, get to know Jesus, walk with Jesus, and grow in Jesus than we’ve wasted a lot of time on Wed. nights!

Jesus says, “the least person in the kingdom of God is greater than John.” ??????????

John would not see Jesus on the cross and benefit from His work on the cross; he would die before Jesus did. Though He trusted in Jesus as Messiah like all those in the Old Testament who looked towards Christ and His salvation. But those who have been born-again, have a unique privilege and position of being “in Christ.” Our greatness and merit and favor and acceptance is based upon Jesus…not us!

You might say, “ I don’t feel so great!” Look at yourself through Jesus’ eyes…not the way people look at you or judge you or condemn you or compare you.

29 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

So after Jesus says this even the “tax collectors,” the most hated and despised people in Jesus’ day because of their allegiance to Rome, and extortion of $ from the citizens of Israel, even they say “right on Jesus!” They had repented by being baptized by John and confessed their sins in preparation for the Messiah. They could receive what Jesus said.

“The Pharisees and lawyers” were the religious establishment, not “lawyers” like we know, but those who interpreted the law. This group rejected the will of God for themselves. They were not baptized because they thought they had no sin to repent of.

They thought that because they kept the commandments and followed the rules, that they were “justified” in God’s eyes.

This brings up a big question and big take away tonight…”what is the will of God for my life?” Am I rejecting it?

I am not a prophet but I can tell you 2 things concerning the will of God in your life.

#1 God wants you to repent of sin

Acts 17:30-31, “30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (NLT)

If you will turn from the sin that is killing you, will kill you, and eventually damn you and turn to Jesus you will be saved!

#2 For the Christian, God’s will is that you live a holy life,

1 Thes. 4:3-6, “ 3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— 5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 6 Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.” (NLT)

31 And the Lord said, “To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying: ‘ We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not weep.’

Lets break this down- it may sound bizarre to you in America, in 2012, many not familiar with Jewish culture and Rabbinical teaching methods. What Jesus is doing is making a commentary on His generation, and he begins by offering an analogy, (a comparison) that has a spiritual reality.

What is this generation like? V32 says that this generation was like a bunch of spoiled kids who could never be satisfied no matter what you did for them. Children would sit and play games, they would mimic the things they saw around them. In those days the biggest events were weddings and funerals; Jesus touches on these two. Let’s play wedding…let’s play funeral. But spoiled kids wouldn’t cooperate in the games, they’d say “this is boring” they just couldn’t be satisfied…this was a picture of not only Jesus’ generation, but a picture of all people apart from Christ.

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

John came with heavy words of judgment, heavy words to people who came to hear him, he lived outside of society, he lived like a Nazarene, no wine, no haircuts, no celebrations, a wild man and the religious leaders rejected him and said” he has a demon.”

Jesus comes and he is at weddings, having a good time, sharing the gospel, hanging out with the outcast of society, the unwanted ones, the unpopular ones, the loners, the losers, those not in the “in crowd.” He loved them, and the religious leaders said, “This guy has a demon.”

John associated with nobody…Jesus associated with everybody. They were a generation of spoiled brats who could never be pleased no matter what you said or what you tried to do for them. They were self-reliant and self-righteous and had no need of the fiery words of John or the truthful words of Jesus.

35 But wisdom is justified by all her children.”

Despite the temperature of Jesus’ generation, and the generation that we live in, the proof of the reality of Jesus and His words are shown in the lives of the people who follow Him and have had their lives transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

There are 2 big take aways tonight:

#1 Are you rejecting God’s will for your life?

Have you repented?

Are you walking in holiness?

#2 Will you make a difference in your generation or are you content with seeing it go to hell?

Prov. 30:11-16

This is a generation that is never satisfied.

Technology…music…sex…pleasure…drugs…money...popularity, you name it...you’re just as bored and just as bummed as you were before.

But if you meet Jesus, you find out that every desire and need is satisfied in HIM, because you were made to enjoy HIM alone, and until then you will wander in the deserts of this world seeking fulfillment.

You have a message and a mission to this generation!

Let’s pray.