Historical Linchpin
Matthew
11:7-19
7As they went away, Jesus began to
speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness
to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
8What then did you go out to see? A
man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in
kings’ houses.
9What then did you go out to see? A
prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
10This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold,
I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’
11Truly, I say to you, among those
born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the
one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12From the days of John the Baptist
until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it
by force.
13For all the Prophets and the Law
prophesied until John,
14and if you are willing to accept
it, he is Elijah who is to come.
15He who has ears to hear, let him
hear.
16“But to what shall I compare this
generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to
their playmates,
17“ ‘We played the flute for
you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
18For John came neither eating nor
drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
19The Son of Man came eating and
drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax
collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
As John’s disciples walk away to carry
their message back to their imprisoned leader, Jesus takes a moment to discuss
the importance of John’s ministry and his historical impact upon the world. The
plan of salvation was foraged long before God even built the universe. Contrary
to what some inside of Christendom are teaching, God is not making this up as
He goes along. There is a greater plan in the works and John the Baptist comes
along in fulfillment of a piece of that plan.
Generation earlier, the prophet Malachi
speaks of John’s arrival on the scene. It is an important prophecy for in its fulfillment
is the advent of the Messiah. Malachi 3:1
says, “Behold, I send my messenger, and
he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly
come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight,
behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.” When John arrives on the
scene it means that the Messiah cannot be far behind. And as it turned out that
was true for Jesus begins His ministry 6 months after John began his. John,
acting as the best man at the wedding of Christ and His bride, the church,
comes to announce that the Kingdom of God has arrived! The time is now.
Jesus makes a couple of statements about
John that perhaps need a moment of thought. First, Jesus asks the crowd why
they took the time to go out into the desert to see John. Was it because He was
just a gentle breeze or because he was dressed richly? Of course not. It was
his bold message that drew people out to the Jordan River. His message had
impact and importance; even if that wasn’t completely understood by his
hearers. Then Jesus declares that John was one of the greatest people ever born
and that he was the least of all. Again with the dichotomies! John was great
because he was the fulfillment of the beginning of the end. His appearance on
the historical stage announces the arrival of the promised One – the Messiah.
And yet he is the least of all, for anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus as
their Savior has become great. John is also called “Elijah”. We need to be
careful here, as we in no way want to appear to support the idea of
reincarnation. John was not a reborn Elijah. But he was the final Old Testament
prophet who declares the exact same message as all of those prophets of old. “Repent,
for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” (And yes, most scholars would place John
into the role of Old Testament prophet even though his story appears in the New
Testament.)
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