God Revealed
Opening Prayer
God, open my heart and mind to hear Your voice, to see what You are doing and to become more like Jesus.
Read Luke 7:24-35
[24] After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? [25] If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. [26] But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. [27] This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ [28] I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” [29] (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. [30] But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.) [31] Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? [32] They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: “‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.’ [33] For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ [34] The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ [35] But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How were the religious characterizing Jesus and John?When we move out of the familiar into new situations, most of us take our preconceived ideas and prejudices with us. In today’s reading, those baptized by John had repented–turning away from their sinful ways (Luke 3:3). They were ready to recognize and receive Jesus, in contrast to the self-righteous religious people (Pharisees) whose hearts and minds were closed (30). Neither John nor Jesus matched their man-made preconceived ideas (33,34). The crowds flocking to see John the Baptist were looking for a Messiah. Some thought he would be a king on a war-horse to liberate them from Roman rule. John didn’t match that expectation. But they recognized he was a prophet and, as Jesus explained, he was special (27). John was the last of the prophets looking forward to the Messiah–hence Jesus’ comment that John was both the greatest and the least (28). We have insight unavailable to John. Jesus’ death and resurrection changed everything. As a result, we can become God’s adopted sons and daughters and can receive the Holy Spirit who reveals God’s truth to us (John 16:13).
Apply
Use Psalm 139:23,24 as a prayer: “Search me, God, and know my heart…”
Closing prayer
Father, You do not look at the external, as we do. You look at the heart. I want to turn from the world’s values to Yours.
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