The New Testament Day 26 As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings palaces! But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, B EHOLD, I SEND M Y MESSENGER AHEAD OF Y OU, W HO WILL PREPARE Y OUR WAY BEFORE Y OU. Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:7-11 NASB) * I am thinking that perhaps Jesus said what He said about John partly so that those who were leaving and going back to John could hear Him and tell John what Jesus said to encourage John (I could be wrong). * What did Jesus mean by Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! ***Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.**** Wasnt John also included among those in the kingdom of heaven? * It always amazes me how powerfully words of encouragement affect me and how long they continue to help me way after they are spoken to me. Imagine being specifically encouraged by Jesus Himself! Imagine Jesus saying to you or me, I think so and so is awesome and is pleasing God by his or her life. Wow! From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. (Matthew 11:12 NASB) * I am not sure what Jesus means by that. For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. (Matthew 11:13 NASB) * Think about what Jesus said: 1. ***All the Old Testament prophets*** prophesied about Jesus. ...and to me, even more interesting is: 2. ***All the Law*** prophesied about Jesus! * I believe that there is more to understanding the Old Testament than I currently understand. One day, I will have to look through the entire Old Testament Law through the filter of how it prophecies about Jesus! And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 11:14-15 NASB) * See. Unless Jesus would have made the connection between John and Elijah, I dont believe many would have been able to make the connection. In the same way, I believe there are many other things in the Old Testament that are like that and unless Jesus reveals these things to us, we wont be able to make the proper connections. But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, and say, We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a demon! The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds. (Matthew 11:16-19 NASB) * We people often have wrong expectations about many things pertaining to God, just like the children Jesus mentions above. We must readjust our expectations to fit what God wants us to expect.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 13:09:21 +0000
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