Jesus, John & Us Series

“Jesus, John & Us”

Luke 7:18-35

A sermon for 6/27/21

Pastor John Bright

Luke 7 “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. 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.’

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.”

I have always heard the saying – “there’s more than one way to skin a cat” – which means there are many ways to accomplish a task or to approach a problem. This is especially true when it comes to skinning a catfish. I grew up with putting a nail in a tree and using pliers to pull the skin down. There are about a thousand other ways. Doubt me? Go check out youtube and you will see all the ways to approach a very slimy problem.

Jesus is dealing with a slimy problem here – folks that will only be happy if you are doing things the way they want. Know anybody like that? In your family? At work? Or maybe, just maybe, you have run into somebody like that at church. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the folks here this morning see somebody like that every time you look in the mirror. Can you change? Absolutely! Listen carefully to what Jesus is saying this morning and determine that it never has to be the way it was.

That’s the catch – isn’t it? That sinking feeling that nothing is going to change and so church becomes something like “pain management therapy.” God always meant this – what we are doing right here and right now – to be transformational. That depends on you and your willingness to be obedient to the Holy Word of God.

Questions about the way Jesus is doing ministry v. 18-23

18 Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things. 19 And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

20 When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ ” 21 And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.

22 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. 23 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

John the Baptizer has sent some of his disciples. One of the things we see in the Gospels is a pattern of those who are teaching having disciples. Jesus and John have disciples. The Pharisees and Rabbis have disciples. We know that some of John’s disciples begin to follow Jesus – John 1 “35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”

37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?”

They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?”

39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).

40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.”

Remember, John the Baptizer and Jesus are cousins. John saw the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus and heard the voice of God. But things have changed. John is in prison because he insulted Herod Antipas and Jesus has not been doing things the way the Scribes and Pharisees like them done. I can’t say for sure why John is sending this question, but Jesus shows them the answer.

Jesus does what He has been doing in all these chapters of Luke we have been unpacking – healing and casting out demons. His actions are consistent with how He started His ministry back in Nazareth, His hometown. There, Jesus read from the Book of Isaiah - Luke 4 “16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: