“I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)” Luke 7:28-30
Devotional Thought For The Day
It is an interesting consideration that, at the time of the coming of John and the Christ, rejecting the baptism of John WAS rejecting “the purpose of God.” Jesus describes John as fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy in Mal. 3:1, God promising to send His messenger to prepare the way for His Christ. In rejecting John, the Pharisees and the lawyers were rejecting the Word of God, both the Old Testament prophecies and also the Word of God that John was sent to proclaim to them. Not only did they refuse to participate in John’s baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins [Luke 3:3], they also refused to heed his preaching concerning Jesus, his identification of Jesus as “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.” [John 1:29] All of the blessedness of forgiveness and salvation were also intended for them, was God’s purpose for them, but they rejected it all. The cause of this was their sinful nature, its blindness and delusion, and also their refusal to study the Scripture, to learn from Scripture, and to be bound by Scripture.
Should we fault these Pharisees? Surely we can understand that there would be a variety of opinion regarding John, the seemingly wild and ascetic preacher in the wilderness. Isn’t it okay to have differing opinions about preachers – whether they come from God or not? Don’t we come from greatly divergent backgrounds, cultures, systems of thought, and traditions? Can’t we utilize a variety of criteria in determining what we are going to believe and what we are going to reject? Won’t God allow for us to reach our own conclusions and honor our innate wisdom and intellect without condemning us? What’s so bad about having different positions in regard to one uncouth, impolite, and politically incorrect preacher? What was so special about what he was doing? He wasn’t even in the temple, didn’t even have a large synagogue there. If he was so special, why did God leave him out in the wilderness? And in the end, doesn’t John’s demise say something about his legitimacy? If he was the purveyor of God’s purpose wouldn’t God have protected him, or at least made sure that he didn’t suffer a wretched end?
It is also interesting that when the people heard Jesus’ comments about John, including the tax collectors, they rejoiced and “declared God just.” Those who know, truly know. They do not question and quibble about the Word of God. They can see, and read, and for the most part clearly understand. They know that there are some mysteries, but they also know that the vast majority of the text of Scripture, God’s Word, is quite simple, clear, and straightforward. We are sinners. God invites us to repent. He promises His forgiveness. He invites us to know and live in His love. He promises His gracious gift of salvation and eternal life through faith alone. In the assurance of His great love He instructs and compels us to love, to do no harm to others, and to thus fulfill His law in our living. He instructs us to continue in His Word so that we may know the truth and be set free by the truth. He describes God’s Word as truth, and as fully able to instruct us in all things that pertain to salvation and to a peaceful and fruitful life of fellowship with God. So, while the one group is grumpy with Jesus, with God, with His Word, with His way of doing things, the other is full of joy and judges God correctly.
It is no different for us today. God has chosen to convey and distribute His wondrous gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation in His own ways. He has chosen baptism and preaching [Matt. 28:18-20, Acts 2:38,39]. He has chosen His sacramental meal which conveys His physical presence and His forgiveness [Matt. 26:26-28] He prepares, calls, and provides preachers as stewards of His mysteries and overseers of His church [Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Cor. 4;1; Acts 20:28]. He calls us to gather together for worship to receive His gifts, His blessings through His Word and Sacraments, through which He gives and assures us of His salvation, and warns us not to forsake this fellowship [Heb. 10:25]. Many do not appreciate this. Many consider it strange and bizarre. Many do not hear and conform to God’s Word, but consider their intellect capable of judging and determining things for themselves. Many question and reject the manner in which God conveys His gifts – His Word, Sacraments, and preachers, and sacred fellowship. But just as in John’s day, when the rejection of John’s baptism was rejection of God’s purpose, so also in our day and time the rejection of God’s means of conveying His blessings is also a rejection of His purposes for us. And no, He will not be convinced by modern arguments as to why people reject His gifts and His blessed purpose for us.
There are still people today who rejoice to receive God’s blessed ministry to us, and who declare that God is just, good, and right. What a joy it is to be among them, and within their fellowship. May He grant such clear, simple, and certain vision and understanding to all of us.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, help us to receive Your gifts and blessings, Your will for our salvation, where and how You have chosen and promised to bestow them. Grant us attentiveness to Your Word, and eagerness to believe and conform to Your Word. Mercifully grant repentance and restoration to those who have strayed from Your Word and rejected Your means of grace. Keep us from falling into the stubborn blindness of the Pharisees, and grateful for Your just and righteous ways. Amen.