Jesus to the multitudes

Speaking of John the Baptist…

Luke 7

English Standard Version (ESV)

26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written,

28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,

See the contrast of walking into two very different churches and hearing the complaints of the ‘worshipers.’

33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’

We will have only grape juice (and only on occasion).

34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

We will have wine (and every time).

35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”

One preacher is loud; one is soft. One place of worship is grand; another quaint. One has an organ and a choir; another only one with a guitar. One place they kneel; in another they jump up and down and fall to the floor.

And what do the multitudes say?

Jesus is not John… and John was not Jesus.

Perhaps they were pious before John, while they were joyful around Jesus. Yet they complained of John’s piety and Jesus’ lack of it. Two brothers of the faith; two sons of God — yet both were more than that.

God has a family of his own children. The speech and ways of one child of God will win the heart of another, while a very different way of  witness will not win this soul.  Our brother or sister of the family of God may win a soul that we cannot.

John and Jesus (even cousins) were so different in so many ways. And you are so different from me.

Wisdom is justified by all of her children (and God has many children). The words and ways and witness of the children are important, each for different times, different purposes and different souls for the family of God; but it is the Father and the wisdom of the Father to which all must yield.

Worship is not for the multitudes; worship is of the Father.

Wisdom is justified by all of her children.

John was one child of God (none greater, according to Jesus). Jesus was One child of God. They taught different. They had different purposes for our Father God.

Some children were chosen for the family of God long before their birth. (Jews.) Some children were chosen by adoption into the family of God before we were conceived in the womb. (Gentiles.)

I thank the Lord for my inclusion in the family of our Heavenly Father by His redemption for my sin. I thank God for all of my brothers and sisters in the Lord – the multifaceted family of believers who have eternal life in Christ Jesus.

And the merciful and Almighty God is justified by ALL His children.

God is NOT justified by those who refuse to worship Him and honor the Lord our God humbly as a child of God. Jesus, John, Peter, Paul, the Prophets have always pointed out that these are children of their father the devil.

Consider for just a moment the individual living souls of two witnesses:

Jesus was NOT John and John was NOT Jesus, yet both are children of the Father.

I am NOT my brother Ed nor my brother Ken nor my sister Jenny. I am NOT my wife Lissette. I am NOT my father Bill nor my mother Marie.  I am NOT my daughter Rachel nor my step-daughter Ashley nor my step-son David. I am not even the same as any Christian brother or sister in the Lord.

Jesus asks John’s messengers (and the multitudes) to stop comparing one child of God to another and to take no offense.

Luke 7:23 KJV And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

It is good advice for ANY brother or sister, whether in the Lord at this time or not.

Do not be skandalizō by the teachings and miracles of your ‘brother’ Jesus or the right teachings of any child of God our Father.

The religious ones and outwardly righteous ones in the crowds (as recorded in Luke 7:30) were scandalized by the teachings of Jesus.  The common sinners, tax collectors, drunkards and others (v. 29) repented when they heard John and changed their ways to continue to follow Jesus as their brother and our Lord.

My dear brother; my dear sister; my beloved wife and beloved children:

What is my message for you?

Do NOT be offended by the teachings of Christ Jesus.

What is the fruit of your witness?