John, the Baptist knew very well who Jesus was! He was the one who said, as he saw Jesus coming to him to be baptised, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29) (see John & John Teach The Truth) At this point in John's short life, he is in prison and knows that he will soon die. (Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29) As any wise teacher would do, he wants to be absolutely sure that he has taught those he will leave behind the truth; for God clearly says in His Word, I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf. But any prophet who falsely claims to speak in my name or who speaks in the name of another god must die.’(Deuteronomy 18:19-20 NLT) Unforetunately, John was going to die, but he was making sure it wasn't going to be for lying about God.
When the men [John's disciples] had come to Him [Jesus], they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’” And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. (Luke 7:20-21) Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” (Luke 7:22-23; Matthew 11:4-6) John's disciples' eye witness account, along with the verbal confirmation from Christ would be all the proof John needed to be sure he had not mistaught or mislead anyone, and he could die in peace. Often times we hear of people who are about to die, whether due to sickness or some other issue, but they don't seem to be at peace until a certain person they are waiting on comes to them or they speak to them. Then it's like a burden is lifted off of them, and they breathe their last. Surely, this had to have been John's reaction.
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? 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. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written:
‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’ [Malachi 3:1]
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.” (Luke 7:24-28; Matthew 11:7-11)
Well, Jesus told them! He reminded them that many of them went to be baptised by John, just like He had done ...the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, ... the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, ... So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?" Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” (Luke 3:2-3, 7, 10, 12, 14) John indeed was the greatest prophet. But just like John told them at their baptisms, ...but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Luke 3:16) Christ Jesus is the greatest of all! And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him. (Luke 7:29-30)
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying: ‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not lament.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.” (Matthew 11:12-19; Luke 7:31-35)
Boy, Jesus knows how to tell us about ourselves! The Pharisees and Jewish leaders and legalists rejected John the Baptist, because John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,... Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Matthew 3:1, 4, 7; Mark 1:4, 6) The Pharisees and Jewish leaders and legalists also rejected Jesus, because ...the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating [and drinking] with the tax collectors and sinners... (Mark 2:16; Matthew 9:11; Luke 5:30); and because He told the people, ...that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20)
The Pharisees and Jewish leaders and legalists problem, along with so many of us is that we think by acting "religious" and "holy" and "perfect", and being baptised, and going to church on Sunday, and knowing how to quote every scripture and verse in The Book, we are wise and saved. WRONG! But wisdom is justified by her children. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:
Well, Jesus told them! He reminded them that many of them went to be baptised by John, just like He had done ...the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, ... the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, ... So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?" Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” (Luke 3:2-3, 7, 10, 12, 14) John indeed was the greatest prophet. But just like John told them at their baptisms, ...but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Luke 3:16) Christ Jesus is the greatest of all! And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him. (Luke 7:29-30)
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying: ‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not lament.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.” (Matthew 11:12-19; Luke 7:31-35)
Boy, Jesus knows how to tell us about ourselves! The Pharisees and Jewish leaders and legalists rejected John the Baptist, because John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,... Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Matthew 3:1, 4, 7; Mark 1:4, 6) The Pharisees and Jewish leaders and legalists also rejected Jesus, because ...the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating [and drinking] with the tax collectors and sinners... (Mark 2:16; Matthew 9:11; Luke 5:30); and because He told the people, ...that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20)
The Pharisees and Jewish leaders and legalists problem, along with so many of us is that we think by acting "religious" and "holy" and "perfect", and being baptised, and going to church on Sunday, and knowing how to quote every scripture and verse in The Book, we are wise and saved. WRONG! But wisdom is justified by her children. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” [Isaiah 29:14]
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” [Isaiah 29:14]
Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks [non-Jews], Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men! (I Corinthians 1:18-25)
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