John Sends a Question to Jesus

After Jesus finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on teaching and preaching in their towns. John the Baptizer, in prison, heard about the works of the Christ. He called two of his disciples and sent them to Jesus with a question: was Jesus the one who was to come, or should they look for another?

Jesus answered by pointing to what was happening. In that very time he healed many people. He told John’s disciples to report what they saw and heard: the blind received sight, the lame walked, lepers were cleansed, the deaf heard, the dead were raised, and the poor had good news preached to them. He added a blessing for the person who did not stumble because of him.

After John’s messengers left, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. What had they gone into the wilderness to see? Not a reed shaken by the wind, and not a man in soft, luxurious clothing, since such people are in kings’ houses. John was a prophet, Jesus said, and more than a prophet: the messenger sent ahead to prepare the way.

Jesus said that among those born of women, no one greater had arisen than John, yet the least in God’s kingdom is greater than he. He also said that from the days of John until now the kingdom had suffered violence, and violent people were taking it by force. The Law and the Prophets pointed forward until John, and if people were willing to receive it, John was the Elijah who was to come.

Luke also notes how people responded. The people and the tax collectors declared God to be just, because they had received John’s baptism. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s counsel for themselves by not being baptised by John.

Then Jesus compared that generation to children in the marketplace who kept complaining. John came with strict habits, and people said he had a demon. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and people called him a glutton, a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Yet wisdom, Jesus said, is shown to be right by her children. How will we respond when God’s ways do not match our expectations?