Jesus on John Luke 7:18-35

This post discusses a question by John the Baptist, and Jesus’ comments about John.

Jesus on John as a post contrasts the two.

After his disciples reported Jesus’ activities, John, imprisoned by Herod (see Matthew 11:2), had doubts about Jesus. So, he sent two disciples to ask about Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus did not answer directly. Instead, He told John’s disciples to report to John the miracles they had seen. Jesus seems to be referencing Is. 35:5-6 and Is. 61:1 where such miracles were prophesied for the Messiah. Thus, His miracles fulfilled prophecy and served as proof of His Messiahship.

To the crowd, Jesus calls John a messenger and clarifies that John fulfilled prophecy, namely, Mal. 3:1. But, John was more than a prophet. Namely, He was a forerunner for the Lord and carried a message from God.

The comment about John being great but not as great as the least in the kingdom of God, the church, puzzles some people. However, John lived under the Old Law and did not have the opportunity to belong to the church. The members of the kingdom occupy a position greater than John and have the promise of eternal life. This comparison by Jesus emphasizes the vast importance of being in the church.

Then, Jesus references two groups of people:

1.Those who were baptized by John and believed that John delivered a command of God.

2.The scribes and lawyers who were not baptized and rejected the will of God.

From these contrasting responses, Jesus drew a word picture of two groups of children playing. One group was trying to please the other who would not be satisfied with any of their efforts. This was a comparison. John came as a rough-hewn prophet-preacher. Jesus came as an ordinary preacher doing miracles. The scribes and lawyers would not accept either John or Jesus.

This parable thus characterizes Jesus’ enemies.

Then, Jesus drew a conclusion: The disciples of John and Jesus show the rightness of the wisdom of God.

What we learned:

1.John fulfilled prophecy as a great forerunner of Jesus.

2.Members of the kingdom of God, the church, occupy a place above John the Baptist.

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