We know, and we'll see more as we make our way along through the gospels, that the disciples really didn't understand yet. Jesus had stood before these men and told them to go out to the lost sheep of Israel.
And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. (Matthew 10:67-8)
Matthew said that Jesus gave them power over these things. Now having someone stand and give that power and actually exercising it was something completely different. We can all probably recall a story in our life when someone was given authority but quickly used that authority incorrectly. Maybe you've fallen into that trap also. Our sinful nature includes pride, greed and a desire to rule our own life; these things can be magnified by an authority, especially one supernatural in nature.
There can be no doubt Jesus would have foreseen this and dealt with it. One way was to maintain that humility is to keep them aware that they're authority was that of a shepherd seeking the lost sheep in a world inhabited by wolves. This 'sending' wasn't exactly a joyous celebration of accomplishment. This was a call to the work of a servant, a response to the compassion Jesus had for the great need of the multitudes that were seeking an answer.
What is the question? It's the same questions we all have before we come to Christ. Who am I? Where did I come from? What am I to do while I'm here? And where am I going when this is over? These are questions seeking meaning and purpose of this life born of the understanding that this life is hard at times. The questions might sound a little different for each of us but the meanings are much the same. Is this life it? Is this as good as it gets? Why am I going through this time? Is there anyone out there? Does anyone love me? Does anyone care?
There is a God who loves you beyond anything we can comprehend. While you are at your worst, He is still as loving as He's ever been. He's not waiting for you to be good or to earn your way, in fact, you can't be that good. He did this in spite or your lack of goodness, because its the only way for you to be reconciled to Him. He sent His son to die on a cross so that the sins of your rebellion are paid for and you might come to Him and be with Him forever.
11 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"
We can go to Luke 3:19 to be reminded as to why John was in prison. John was announcing that One would come after him. John said he was the forerunner preparing the way.
18 And with many other exhortations he preached to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, 20 also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.
Herod went to Rome and visited his brother. While there seduced his brothers wife. When he came home he dismissed his wife and married his brother's wife Herodias. John calls this evil out, among others of which Herod was guilty. This was bad for Herod's image so he had John thrown in prison.
This prison was the Fortress of Machearus. This was a mountaintop fortress created to defend against military attack. It had a palace for Herod but it wasn't a place he spent much time at. It was a place to hide. It would be easy for him to put John there and forget about him. If John had been anyone else the Jewish authorities might have made some noise and secured his release. But due to the message John preached, he had no friends among the Jewish elite.
John was a man of the wilderness, used to living in the wide open. Now he was closed up in prison. He was man with a message to preach but now he had no one to preach it to. He had announced that One was coming, yet no one had come. This was probably a lonely and trying season for John.
The news that made its way to prison was that Jesus was healing the sick and casting out demons. While this was good, he may not necessarily been what John was expecting form the messiah. He may have been expecting something a little closer to a rebellion and military action of some kind. He may have been expecting his own rescue.
Matthew tells us that John sent 2 of his disciples to ask Jesus this question. This may well have been John seeking this answer but some believe it was being asked on behalf of his disciples. Either way, the affect is the same. John would continue to point to Jesus and the disciples wanted assurance they were on the right path.
It's not hard to imagine John wondering if he had been, in fact, this one who was leading the way to the coming messiah. Had he really been this Elijah like person (2 Kings 17:8; Matthew 3:4) fulfilling Malachi 4:5? John may have been asking himself, "If I am the one leading the way to the coming messiah, why am I stuck in prison?"
4 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."
This passage went on to speak of comfort and consoling; beauty for ashes and the people might become trees of righteousness. This might also bring to mind Psalm 1. All these things were good, no one would argue, but it wasn't what they had come to expect. They were looking for authority, power and might to overthrow the oppression of Rome and rule Israel. What they saw was spiritual authority, power and the might to overthrow sin. Jesus came to offer eternal hope, not to offer a more physically comfortable life. Jesus was ministering to the heart and soul of individuals. It's as if John pointed to Jesus and Jesus put His authority on display as He declared the Kingdom of Heaven; which was pointing forward. But forward to what? To when? We know it was pointing them toward the cross and resurrection.
As noted, this wasn't the expectation and therefore would offend many. Jesus offers a beatitude to John and His followers: Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me. For John, this meant blessed is he who perseveres as he remains in prison, whose message is silenced and who is patient in this difficult season of his life. We can relate to that can't we? We get impatient and say, "Where are you Jesus? Why am I going through this?" John will soon be delivered, but not in the way he may have thought.
The multitude may have well included many followers of John the Baptist. And we can only wonder how many went away, offended and disappointed because Jesus didn't meet their expectations.
John conducted his ministry in the wilderness and the desert. A trip out to see and hear John the Baptist wasn't a few minutes trip done out of curiosity. This was hours or a days difficult travel for many. Did they travel that long distance to hear some slick preacher who would tickle their ears? Did they expect someone who shifted with the winds as a reed; someone weak and soft? Did they make this excursion to see a man in his finest clothes tell of them to "Seek their best life now"? Jesus asks, what did you go out to see? This is a call for soul searching, for purpose? Jesus might have added, 'Weren't you seeking answers, truth, hope, a connection with God?' They went to see a prophet, a man like Elijah with a message from God. It was a reminder of John pointing to Jesus and why he was doing so.
John was a prophet and much more. They had gone to a lot of trouble to see and hear him, now it was time to see and hear the one who came after him. Jesus quotes Malichi 3:1. Jesus is not just saying that John is this herald, but that He is the Messiah the herald spoke of. John was unique among Old Testament prophets in that he led the way to the messiah.
11 "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
The greatness of John was defined by his calling to be this one who would lead the way. He was the last of the Old Testament prophets. He pointed to the messiah and believed by faith, but would never see (not in this world anyway) the way it would happen. Those who come after John won't be great of themselves any more than John. Their greatness will be found in Kingdom to come in being able to see and hear the messiah. Maybe the words of Peter describe this greatness:
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
What is this violence Jesus speaks of? The scholars and commentators have many thoughts and views. Is it not the spiritual warfare that was happening and continues today to keep people away from the good news of Jesus Christ. This message of Jesus can't be received in some passive way and then we go about our business. Folks went to the wilderness to hear a word from God. It's like Jesus saying, "Now that you heard it, receive it!" There is an enemy that wants you to scoff and walk away. There is an enemy saying, "What kind of messiah would leave his prophet in prison?" Is this not a call by Jesus to come to him, be willing to fight your way through whatever road blocks there are; whatever opposition. John was a type of Elijah, but there is a time coming when Elijah will come before the Day of the Lord. This is probably referring to Elijah being a witness seen in Revelation 11:3-12.
"Frequently complaints are made and surprise expressed by individuals who have never found a blessing rest upon anything they have attempted to do in the service of God. 'I have been a Sunday-school teacher for years,' says one, 'and I have never seen any of my girls or boys converted.' No, and the reason most likely is you have never been violent about it; you have never been compelled by the Divine Spirit to make up your mind that converted they should be, and no stone should be left unturned until they were. You have never been brought by the Spirit to such a passion, that you have said, 'I cannot live unless God bless me. I cannot exist unless I see some of these children saved.' Then, falling on your knees in agony of prayer, and putting forth afterwards your trust with the same intensity towards heaven, you would never have been disappointed, 'for the violent take it by force.'" (Spurgeon)
Jesus likened the multitude of Jews to a petulant child that refused to be happy and join the others. The other children played the flute but you wouldn't dance. So they tried mourning but you wouldn't lament. No matter what was done it wouldn't be received. It's like Jesus saying I brought different prophets to you across the ages bringing the message in different ways, but you refused them.
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19 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."
John was separated, not like everyone else, not sitting down and eating and drinking in social settings. They responded to John by saying he has a demon. He wasn't like them, to wild eyed and crazy. So Jesus came and He eats and drinks among the people and now they say He mixes with normal people. The multitude were hardhearted and stiffnecked.
Jesus said, 'Wisdom is justified by her children." This is like saying that anyone honestly observing John's behavior and His behavior would be able to see their righteousness. It would be wise for the multitudes to see John's righteousness and heed his message pointing to Jesus. It would be wise for the multitude to hear the message of Christ and pay attention.
20 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the Day of Judgment than for you."
Chorazin and Bethsaida were both towns in Galilee. Chorazin was just a couple miles north of Capernaum while Bethsaida was about 3 miles east along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Both of these cities were places where Jesus did miracles and signs. But these folks rejected Jesus.
"These cities did not attack Jesus Christ; they did not drive him from their gates; they did not seek to crucify him; they simply disregarded him. Neglect can kill as much as persecution can." (Barclay)
This is a fascinating thought in the context of our own society. It's also worth noting that both of these cities were destroyed and no longer exists as Tyre and Sidon also were judged. The difference is that Tyre and Sidon were evil but they were that way out of ignorance. They did not reject the messiah. Jesus said that had He come to them, they would have repented. Because these Galilean cities rejected Jesus they would be punished to a greater degree than those that had not.
Capernaum means 'city of consolation'. This was the home base of the ministry of Jesus Christ. They were exalted in that they were chosen to be the dwelling place of the messiah. Yet, their blessing was not realized because they met the blessings with an equally hard heart. Even Sodom, the epitome of evil, would have responded more favorably and not been destroyed.
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
We can see so much in this short prayer. There is a commune between the Father and the Son. There is the evidence of sovereign election. There is testimony that Jesus is the way. For this multitude it was a time of decision. The babes to which this was revealed are the humble, the broken, the contrite, those who recognize their need. The babes are those asking questions about purpose and meaning; those willing to go to the wilderness or the barren place to seek and answer from God through a prophet.
To those who saw the wisdom by her children knew John was right and knew Jesus was who He said he was. This wasn't an easy decision to make because many said he was crazy or a liar. The Pharisees had put the people under such a burden and such a yoke. Their lives consisted of do, do, do; do this, don't do that, remember this and that. There were lists upon lists of do's and don'ts and definitions surrounding each. Religion had become a heavy yoke. But Jesus offered a yoke that fit well. It was work that was a calling and a joy. Jesus offered discipleship in which one could find rest from seeking answers and purpose; it is all found in Jesus Christ.
Barclay notes that a Rabbi said, "My burden has become my song." The burden is carried in love and that makes the burden light and meaningless.
There is an old story which tells how a man came upon a little boy carrying a still smaller boy, who was lame, upon his back. 'That's a heavy burden for you to carry,' said the man. 'That's no' a burden,' came the answer. 'That's my wee brother.'
When we are under the burden of sin and worry and the cares of this world we are weary and heavy laden. Any burden looks like it will break us down. The offer of Jesus is a trade. Put down all those burdens and instead of being yoked to the world or to other gods, yoke yourself to Jesus. This burden which is given us in love and which is carried in love is always light.
©2015 Doug Ford
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