13 January, 2011
Read Luke 7:18-31
When people fail to meet our expectations, we get disappointed.
In this passage, John the Baptist’s was puzzled because Jesus did not fit his expectations of a Messiah. Jesus spoke in parables, quoted Scriptures, asked questions and left the people to draw their own conclusions concerning Him. It was not what John expected of a Messiah.
Luke 7:31-35
“Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 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; (referring to John)
we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.’(referring to Jesus)
The people of Jesus’ time complained that John was too serious while Jesus partied too much. Yet all who saw the miracles (Luke 7:22-23) would clearly be able to recognise Jesus for who He was.
So many people today still judge Jesus according to their own expectations; even Christians. In doing so, we get disappointed, discouraged and even doubt God.
Unless we are willing to put aside our expectations, we may end up like the people of Jesus’ generation, criticising the church and other Christians for being too conservative or liberal, being too rigid or open.
Before we pass judgment on God or the church; and in fact anything and everything, let us beware first of our unrealistic bias expectations.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
posted so late CP!
ReplyDeleteJesus partied too? He is so awesome =)
Why would John the Baptist question whether or not Jesus is the Messiah when he baptised him in chapter 3 where :
ReplyDelete21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Was that not obvious enough for John or he still had doubts? Are the chapters in linear order of events? a little confusion between fio and i
yes - the chapters are in linear order of events.
ReplyDeleteJesus only started his ministry after John's arrest. So all that John had was reports of Jesus's mission through his disciples.
John was confused because Jesus spoke in parables instead of directly. Jesus spoke in parables so as not to get crucified before his appointed time.
John's preaching was direct and to the point - he called the Pharisees 'brood of vipers' and condemned king herod for his adulterous union. For that he landed in jail. the kingdom's message was the judgement of the wicked and the freedom for the righteous (those who followed God's way). but King Herod was free and John still imprisoned.
True that John recognised Jesus as the lamb that took away the sin of the world - but all of Jesus' actions did not match up to John's mental profile of a messiah. the Messiah was supposed to be in full control, bringing in the kingdom's rule immediately - but the wicked were still thriving and the righteous suffering. So, the question came - 'did i see or hear rightly at the baptism' - we all can identify with that kind of doubt.
this doubt seeks to verify the truth again by asking questions and seeking God. the other doubt of God leads to us coming up with our own answers by our reasoning. this kind lead to death of faith.
by the way - Jesus' partying is different from Canadian partying :) i party the way Jesus party too :)
According to the Pharisees and that current culture/religion, Jesus was "partying" with people that were classified as condemned sinners. He spent time, talked to, and ate with tax-collectors, prostitutes, and Samaritans. If you were a Jew, you were not suppose to be with these people, they were sinful, and unclean.
ReplyDeleteJesus came for the poor, oppressed, the ones rejected by society.
- You see why he did not meet many of those "messiah" expectations people built up?
Jesus came and turned the world upside-down.
or to turn the world rightside up?
ReplyDelete