Baptist Catechism 101

Q. 101. What is the duty of such who are rightly baptized?

A. It is the duty of those who are rightly baptized to give up themselves to some particular and orderly church of Jesus Christ, that they may walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. (Acts 2:46,47; Acts 9:26; 1 Peter 2:5; Heb. 10:25; Rom. 16:5)

Scripture Reading: Romans 16:1–15

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.” (Romans 16:1–15, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

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So why have I tortured myself with the task of reading all of these unfamiliar and hard to pronounce names that are found at the end of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome? The reason I’ve done this is to remind you that those who have faith in Christ are to be baptized and join themselves to churches. These names are names of real people who believed in Christ, were baptized upon their profession of faith, and were members of the church in Rome. Isn’t that awesome to think about. These hard-to-pronounce names represent people — real people, who lived real lives, a long, long time ago. They lived in a very different time and place from the time and place we live in today, but we share this in common — our faith in Christ, or baptism, and our membership in Christ’s church. They were members of the church in Rome. They heard the word read and preached there, and they celebrated the Lord’s Supper there, much in the same way that you and I do in this place today. 

The question that we are considering from our catechism today reminds us of the same thing. Those who have faith in Christ are to be baptized, and those who are baptized are to join themselves to a local church where they will be taught to obey all that Christ has commanded us. 

Let’s consider question 101 of the baptism catechism piece by piece. First the question: “What is the duty of such who are rightly baptized?” In other words, what are those who are baptized then to do?

That is a really important question. Baptism is to be applied near the beginning of the Christian life. It marks one’s entrance into the kingdom of God and shows that we are partakers of the Covenant of Grace. It should be applied not long after someone makes a credible profession of faith. So baptism is applied at the beginning of the Christian life… but what then?

Our catechism is right to say that “[i]t is the duty of those who are rightly baptized to give up themselves to some particular and orderly church of Jesus Christ…

What does “particular” mean in this context? Here “particular” refers to a local, or visible, church. 

Is there such a thing as the universal, or catholic, church? Yes, of course, there is. When we speak of the universal church we are speaking of all who have true faith in Christ throughout the world. The universal church is sometimes called the invisible church because we cannot see it with our eyes. God sees it, but we cannot. The universal church cannot assemble on earth. It assembles in heaven now, spiritually speaking. And it will assemble for all eternity in the new heavens and earth after Christ returns. But it cannot assemble on earth today, for the universal church is too large, and it is separated by geographical distance, not to mention language and even culture. When a person places their faith in Christ they are automatically joined to this universal and invisible church by virtue of their Spirit-wrought union with Christ. All who have faith in Christ are joined together in him. 

But that is not the church that our catechism is talking about. No, our catechism is teaching that the one who has faith in Christ out to join themselves to a particular church, a local church, a visible church, consisting of officers and members,  where the Word of God is preached and Sacraments are administered as the church assembles each Lord’s Day. That is what the word “particular” means in this context. 

You know, as you read the New Testament, you’ll find that references to particular, local churched are everywhere. You just need to look for them. The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were to be circulated amongst the churches and they contain instructions for life in the church. The book of Acts is all about the local church. We hear of churches being planted, of elders and deacons, and of members. Most of Paul’s letters were written either to local churches — churches in Rome, Ephesus, Colossi, etc. — or to men who were serving as ministers within these churches. Even the book of Revelation was addressed to seven particular churches. 

The topic of the local church is so pervasive in the NT that it is really hard to imagine the Christain faith being practiced apart from it… and yet so many try in our day and age. Many claim to love Jesus, but they want nothing to do with the church. These seem to have forgotten that Jesus did not merely die for them individually — no, he laid down his life for the church. It is the church, and not you and me as individuals, that he calls his bride (see Eph 5:25ff.).

So, we must acknowledge that this is what the Scriptures call us to do. After believing upon Christ, we are to be baptized. And having been baptized, we are to join ourselves to a particular church (preferably the one we were baptized in, but people do move, don’t they?).

Notice also the word “orderly”. “It is the duty of those who are rightly baptized to give up themselves to some particular and orderly church of Jesus Christ…” An orderly church is ordered (organized) according to the Scriptures. No church is perfect. But a church that is well ordered will have officers and members. The Scriptures will be faithfully taught there, and the Sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper will be faithfully administered. And lastly, an orderly church will be disciplined. And by this I mean that the church — its elders and members together — will be faithful to do what is commanded in Matthew 18 and described is 1 Corinthians 5. Those who are struggling with sin will be lovingly and patiently called to repentance, and those who persist in sin will, in an orderly manner, be removed from the church.  

“Orderly” means properly ordered. And properly ordered implies that there is a standard to which we are to conform.  I’m afraid that many churches have forgotten this. So many take it upon themselves to decide how they should “do church”, but that is not our place. Some decisions are naturally left to us, but our main concern should be to conform ourselves to the order prescribed by Christ which is found in the Scriptures. If I can offer a word of wisdom to my brothers and sisters in Christ who are outside of this local congregation who may happen to be listening in: stop looking for a hip church, and start looking for a faithful church — one that is well ordered according to the Scriptures.

The words “give up themselves” are also important. “Church” is not a service to attend, but a body to join. Are you following me? When someone joins a church they make a commitment to that congregation, and the congregation makes a commitment to them. And what is that commitment? Well, in brief, we commit to be the church together, to assemble for worship, to receive the word together, to partake of the ordinances, and to do, and even be subject to, discipline. When someone joins a church they make a commitment to love the members of that congregation, and they receive a commitment to be loved. The Scriptures teach that new members are to be received (Romans 14:1), and that does imply some formality. Please remember this: Christains are not merely to attend church, as if attending a conference, or worse yet, a concert or comedy club. Christians are to give themselves up to a local church. They are to entrust themselves to the elders, deacons, and members of that church, and they themselves are to endeavor to use whatever gifts God has given to them for the building up of the body of Christ in that place, for we are all members one of another (Romans 12:5).

Lastly, our catechism says, “that they may walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”

The Christian life is a walk. It is a journey. Where we end up matters more than where we begin. And Christians are to walk with others. They are to walk by faith in the church. 

And in this walk, we are to be concerned with keeping the commandments of God. Remember what Jesus said when he commissioned his disciples?  “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18–20, ESV). One of the primary responsibilities of the church, with elders at the lead, is to teach Christians to observe all that Christ has commanded them. This is a process. Sometimes it is a grueling process. We must be patient and kind towards one another. 

God’s commands are to be obeyed, and Christ’s ordinances are to be kept. Here we are to think primarily of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. 

You know, the Reformers had to wrestle with the question, what constitutes a true church after breaking from Rome. For those in Rome, that question was easy to answer. Rome is the true church. Anything outside of its structure with the Pope at the head is to be rejected. The Reformers were right to reject this organizational approach and to put the stress elsewhere. True churches are those churches that preach and teach the Word of God accurately, administer the Sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and baptism faithfully, and some would also add, are disciplined. True churches may be strong or weak, pure or impure, relatively speaking. But these three marks characterize true churches. And I think they were right.  

Remember, this catechism that we are working our way through was compiled by Particular (Reformed) Baptists. Isn’t interesting that they did not say, it is the duty of those who are rightly baptized to give up themselves to some particular and orderly Particular Baptist Church, that they may walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. My point is this: our Particular Baptist forefathers felt and thought strongly about their particular church tradition, just as we do. But they were also charitable. They knew that there were many churches outside of their tradition that were true churches of Jesus Christ, and we should rejoice whenever a person turns from their sins, is rightly baptized, and gives themselves up to one of these true churches to walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 

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Conclusion

Q. 101. What is the duty of such who are rightly baptized?

A. It is the duty of those who are rightly baptized to give up themselves to some particular and orderly church of Jesus Christ, that they may walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. (Acts 2:46,47; Acts 9:26; 1 Peter 2:5; Heb. 10:25; Rom. 16:5)

Old Testament Reading: Malachi 3:1–5

“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. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years. Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:1–5, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 7:24-30

“When John’s messengers had gone, 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? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 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.’ (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)” (Luke 7:24–30, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

The passage that is before us today is rather straightforward. Here we learn that Jesus testified concerning the goodness and greatness of John the Baptist. So, just as John the Baptist was faithful to testify concerning Jesus as the Messiah, so too Jesus was faithful to testify concerning John, that he was indeed the great prophet who prepared the way for the Messiah. As I said, the text is rather straightforward and simple, and yet I think there is a lot to glean from it if we would only slow down enough to reflect upon what it says. 

Friends, you and I are living a long time after the Messiah has come to accomplish salvation and to inaugurate the New Covenant. We have the Holy Scriptures – the Old Testament and the New. And we also benefit from nearly 2,000 years of church history wherein men and women have reflected on the Scriptures, the Christ who is revealed within and have written great works of theology. I think it is important for us to remember the uniqueness of the time in which we live. We live under the New Covenant. We live a long time after Jesus the Messiah has come to accomplish our redemption. It is especially important for us to remember these things when we consider passages like the one that is before us today. Luke 7:24-30 tells us about things that happened as Jesus Christ was just beginning his earthly ministry. Men and women were just beginning to recognize him as the Messiah, therefore. What exactly he would be, and what exactly he would do to bring salvation to his people, was still a mystery to them. 

The word “mystery” is very important. It is a word that is used often in the Bible, especially in the writings of Paul. Particularly in Ephesians and Colossians, Paul uses the word “mystery” to describe the information that people had about the Messiah before he lived, died, and rose again (see, for example, Ephesians 3:8-11). Did people know about the Messiah before he was born? Yes. Did they know that he would accomplish salvation? Yes. Did some place their faith in him for the forgiveness of their sins and life everlasting? Yes. Abraham, for example, “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3, ESV). And there were many others who had the faith of Abraham and were saved. But what did those who lived prior to the coming of Christ believe in? They believed in God’s Word. They trusted in the promises of God concerning the Messiah who was to come. They believed in God’s promise that redemption would someday be accomplished, that sins would someday be atoned for, and that Satan, sin, and death would someday be overthrown and defeated. But who the Messiah would be, when he would come, what he would be like, and how exactly he would accomplish our redemption, was mysterious to them. Some who lived prior to the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ received light from God concerning the coming Messiah, but the light was very dim when compared to the light that we enjoy now that Christ has come. 

In fact, we know what it is like to believe in truths cloaked in mystery. I’m thinking here of what the Scriptures say regarding the return of Christ. Do we know that Christ will return? Yes. Do we know that he will judge? Yes. Do we know that he will bring his people into the new creation? Yes. But many of the details remain a mystery. When will Christ return? What exactly will he and we be like? What will be the glory of the new creation? It is hard to say, exactly. But we will know when it happens. Until then, we trust in Christ and in the promises of God’s Word. And I am saying that something very similar was experienced by the people of God concerning their knowledge of the Messiah prior to his birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. They knew he would come. They understood some things about who he would be and what he would do. They knew enough to place their faith in him! But the picture they had of him was not nearly as clear as the one that we have, now that he has come.   

So why am I reminding you of these things in the introduction to this sermon on Luke 7:24-30? Well, so we might recognize that the events and sayings recorded here took place during a time of great transition. There have been a few great transitions that have taken place in human history. Man’s fall into sin was a great transitional moment. The global flood in the days of Noah was a great transitional moment. By it, the world that once was was separated from the world that now is (2 Peter 3:6-7). Israel’s redemption from Egyptian bondage was a transitional moment. For then the kingdom of God was pictured (or prefigured) on earth for the first time. The greatest of all transitions is still in our future. It will happen when Christ returns to usher in a new heaven and new earth. Then, the first heaven and earth – the one in which we now live – will pass away, and the new will come (Revelation 21). But of course, the new creation that will be brought into existence at Christ’s second coming was earned and inaugurated (or begun) at his first coming. And that is what we are now considering in Luke’s gospel – Christ’s first coming. The period of time that Luke records for us was a time of great transition, for in those days the Christ, who was promised by God from long ago, was coming into the world to accomplish salvation for God’s elect, to inaugurate (or begin) the kingdom of God on earth, and to begin a new creation. 

In those days, Christ was coming into the world.  I say, “was coming” to stress that his first coming was progressive. The eternal Son of God became incarnate by being conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. He was born. He grew in wisdom and stature. At about the age of 30, John the Baptist introduced him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He lived in perfect obedience to the Father, and, after about three years, he was unjustly crucified. He died, was buried, and rose again on the third day. After showing himself to be alive for 40 days, he ascended to the right hand of the Father, from wince he will return. His first coming was progressive – it was a process that lasted about 33 years. The progressive nature of Christ’s first coming can be compared to the redemption that was worked for Isarel from Egyptian bondage through Moses. That act of redemption was also progressive. It began with the birth and calling of Moses and culminated in the outpouring of ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea. That act of redemption was a picture or type of the greater act of redemption that Christ has worked. The two acts share this in common – they were both progressive. Friends, Christ’s second coming will not be progressive. It will happen in a moment and without warning. Christ’s second coming can be compared to the judgment of the flood that came upon the earth in the days of Noah. In fact, Jesus is the one who makes this comparison in Matthew 24:38, saying, “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:38–39, ESV). When Christ came into the world the first time, he came to accomplish our salvation. And like the redemption worked through Moses, he redeemed us progressively through his whole life. When Christ comes into the world again, it will be for judgment and for consummation. There will be nothing progressive about his second coming. No, he will come like a thief in the night.   

With all of that as an introduction, let us dive into our text for today being mindful of the fact that was a time of great transition. In these days, the Christ was coming to the world to accomplish redemption for all whom the Father had given to him in eternity. John the Baptist had faithfully testified concerning Jesus. He told everyone he could that Jesus was the Messiah and urged them to turn from their sins and follow him. Now John is in prison. And here in our text for today, Jesus testifies concerning him – his goodness and his greatness.   

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Jesus Declared John The Baptist To Be The Greatest Of The Old Testament Prophets

First, in verses 24-28, Jesus declares that John the Baptist is the greatest of the Old Testament prophets.  

In verse 24 we read, “When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John…” He did this because the people likely had questions concerning John. Not long before this great masses of people were going out into the wilderness to listen to John’s teaching and to be baptized by him. The people regarded him as a prophet. Some wondered if he was the Messiah. He insisted he was not, but that Jesus was. And now John was in prison. I’m sure many wondered what to make of John. They wondered how they were to interpret this change of events. Some slandered him, I’m sure.  And so Jesus spoke up to defend him. 

He said,  “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John.”

When Jesus asked,  “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?”, he was asserting that John was not a person who was easily shaken. A reed is easily shaken. A soft breeze will make it quiver. The obvious answer to the question, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?”, was, of course not. The multitudes did not flock to John because he was a man easily shaken. Instead, they flocked to him because he was a man of substance, resolve, and strong faith. 

When Jesus said, “What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts”, he was asserting that John was not the kind of person who would compromise when faced with hardships. John had already decided to separate himself from the world and to forsake the pleasures of this world. He lived in the wilderness, wore rough clothing, ate locust and wild honey, and devoted himself to fasting and prayer. John had already forsaken the world for the sake of Christ. He would not compromise when threatened with discomfort or death. He would not be tempted by the pleasantries of this life, for he had already died to them. 

So, the answer to the first two questions posed by Jesus was “no”. But the answer to the third question, was “yes”. “What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.” Jesus declared John to be a prophet – a prophet like Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah. When he declared him to be more than a prophet, he meant that he was a prophet like no other, for he was a prophet about whom other prophets had prophesied. Jesus then quoted from the prophet Malachi 3:1, saying, “This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’” John was more than an ordinary prophet. He was the prophet who was blessed to prepare the way for the immediate arrival of the Messiah, Christ the Lord.  

Jesus then made this remarkable comment: “I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John.” He is to be regarded as the greatest of all the prophets and people who had ever lived up until then.

A question we should ask is, what made John the Baptist so great? The answer is that it was Christ who made him great. By the grace of God, John was born to be the one who prepared the way for Christ. By the grace of God, John was given the gift of faith to know that Jesus was the Christ. By the grace of God, John forsook all of the pleasures of this world and even life itself to be the forerunner for Christ. And by the grace of God, John was uniquely blessed to say the words, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, ESV). The prophets who had lived before John were blessed to speak of Christ, but they spoke of him from a distance. John was blessed to see him with his own, to touch him with his own hands, to baptize him with water, to witness with his own eyes his anointing with the Holy Spirit, to hear with his own ears the declaration of the Father, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22, ESV), and to point with his own hand while uttering the words, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, ESV). By the grace of God, John was a great man who was strong in faith, hope, and love, but it was his proximity to Jesus that set him apart as truly great. He was a prophet. But he was more than a prophet. He was the prophet who was blessed to minister at this time of great transition to announce that the Messiah was coming into the world to finally accomplish our redemption in fulfillment of the promises of God previously made. 

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Jesus Declared That John The Baptist Was Lower Than The Least In The Kingdom Of God 

That this is what made John the greatest of all the prophets of Old – his proximity to Christ –  is made clear by what Jesus says next. Look at the end of verse 28. There Jesus adds, “Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

This is a mysterious saying, wouldn’t you agree? 

And yes, I am intentionally playing off of the word mystery as it was used earlier in this sermon, for I do believe that the key to understanding the meaning of this saying of Jesus is to interpret it in light of the doctrine of the mystery of Christ once concealed but now revealed.

What does Jesus mean by the words, “Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” You should know that there are many interpretations found within the commentary tradition. Some think that Jesus is speaking of the angels – the least of the angels is greater than John. Though true, I doubt that this is the meaning. Some think that Jesus is speaking of those who have died and gone to glory. The least in paradise are greater than John who is on earth. Though this is, in a way, also true, I doubt it is the meaning. 

Instead, to understand what Jesus meant when he said, “Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than [John]”,  we must remember that both John the Baptist and Jesus preached that the kingdom of God (or of heaven) was at hand. According to Luke 1:33, Jesus was born to establish an eternal kingdom. According to Matthew 3:1-2, “John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’”. In Luke 4:43 we were told that Jesus went about preaching the “good news of the kingdom of God” (Luke 4:43, ESV). And in Luke 6:20 we hear the words of Christ as he came down from the mountain with his disciples to preach in that level place: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” 

So, the kingdom of God (or of heaven) of which John the Baptist and Christ spoke not confined to heaven, but is present on earth. And it was not present on earth before Christ came, but was at hand in the days of John and Jesus’ earthly ministry. In other words, it was very near. Clearly, the arrival of this kingdom was associated with the arrival of the Messiah, for Jesus is the King of this eternal kingdom. 

When Jesus said that none was greater than John the Baptist, “Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he”, he was not comparing John with the angels in heaven or with the saints who had died and were in paradise. No, Jesus was comparing the greatness of John, who lived and would die before the death, burial, and, resurrection of Christ, with the far surpassing greatness of those with faith in Christ who would live after Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. 

You see, this is a comparison between the Old Covanant and the New, the kingdom of God prefigured within Isarel and the Kingdom present in power in the church of Jesus Christ. The comparison is not a vertical one, comparing John on earth with the angels in heaven, but a horizontal, redemptive-historical one. 

When Jesus said, “Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he”, he meant that the lowliest disciple of his who lives after his death and resurrection will experience something greater than what John the Baptist ever experienced on earth, namely life in his inaugurated kingdom. Though it is true that none who lived up till then was greater than John, it is also true that John would never experience life in the inaugurated kingdom of God on earth. He preached about the arrival of the kingdom –  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”, he said –  but he would die before it was present with power. In this way, John the Baptist was like Moses. Moses prepared the people to enter the promised land where the kingdom of God would be prefigured on earth, but he himself never entered in. 

When did the kingdom of God come to be present on earth with power?

It was after Christ lived a life of perfect obedience to God the Father as the second and greater Adam. It was after he suffered and died in the place of those given to him by the Father in eternity, to bear the wrath of God in their place, and to atone for their sins. It was after Christ died and was raised, thus defeating sin, Satan, and death. And it was after he ascended to the Father’s right hand to sit down on the throne of his eternal kingdom. You see, it was through the suffering of the cross and the victory of resurrection that Christ bound Satan so that he could no longer deceive the nations. He bound Satan so that he could plunder his house. The nations belong to Christ the King! They will be held captive in idolatry and in bondage to the evil one no longer, for Christ is risen. Satan has been cast down and bound, and Christ has ascended to his rightful throne. He has opened up the way in the very presence of God for his people. He has set the captives free. And he has poured out the Holy Spirit on all flesh. Indeed, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. Disciples will be made nations. These will baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, thus marking their entrance into Christ’s eternal Kingdom. These will be taught to observe all that Christ has commanded. And behold, he will be with us, to the end of the age. Then his kingdom, which is now here in part, will be here in full (see Matthew 28:18–20).

John the Baptist was the greatest of the prophets of Old given his proximity to Christ. More light was given to him than was given to all who preceded him. But he still lived in the age of darkness and mystery. Though he knew that Christ was “the one who is to come”, he still did not know what exactly he would do to accomplish our redemption or what the result would be. 

After Christ died, rose again, and ascended, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Peter, and Paul– indeed all who have heard of Christ, his finished work, and have believed in his name – have received a revelation that is much greater and brighter than the revelation that John, the greatest of the prophets of Old, had received. By God’s grace, John walked confidently in an age of relative darkness by the light of the full moon. He could see Christ clearly so as to believe in him and proclaim him. But those who have heard the good news of Jesus Christ after his death, resurrection, and ascension walk in the light of the noontime sun. One needs only to compare the writings of Paul the Apostle with the writings of all of the prophets of Old, to observe the difference that the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ has made.    

The revelation we have received now that Christ has risen is much greater, and so too is our experience. What should I say about this? I could go on for a long time. Our redemption has been accomplished. We are united to Christ by faith. The way into the presence of God has been opened up through Christ’s mediation. We are invited to come boldly before the throne of grace, therefore! We have been set free from the rigor and curse of the law. We have a sympathetic high priest who intercedes for us uninterrupted by fatigue, sickness, or death. And Satan, our advisory, has been bound. That is what passages such as Matthew 12:29, Matk 3:27, and Revelation 20:1-3 so clearly teach. People may wonder what it means for Satan to have been at Christ’s first coming when he is so clearly active in this world. He is bound so that Christ may plunder his house. He is bound so that he cannot deceive the nations any long. He is bound so that disciples of Jesus can be made of all nations!  Think of how the nations were bound in the darkness of idolatry prior to the resurrection and ascension of Christ. And think of the progress that the kingdom of God has made! The gospel of the kingdom has gone to the ends of the earth! This is the result of Christ’s victory, the binding of the strongman, and the pouring out of the Spirit of God on all flesh. 

I hope you have a better understanding of what Christ meant when, after declaring John to be the greatest of the prophets of Old, then said, “Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” The insights into the mystery of Christ are greater. The benefits that we have received are greater. Why? Because Christ, his Kingdom, and the Covenant he mediators are greater than all that came before.   

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Some Of The People Received John, And Therefore, Jesus – Others Rejected Them Both 

The last observation I have is that in those days some of the people received John and therefore, Jesus, whereas others rejected them both. 

Look at verse 29: “When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.” (Luke 7:29–30, ESV)

To reject the testimony of John was to reject the Messiah, for John testified concerning the Messiah. And the same can be said for the prophets of Old. To reject them was to reject the Lord, for these prophets spoke God’s word to the people. 

We should remember the history of Israel, and how often the true prophets of God were mistreated while the false prophets were shown honor. Christ made mention of this in his sermon on the plane, remember? “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets” (Luke 6:22–23, ESV). And a little later he said, “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets” (Luke 6:26, ESV).

We should not be surprised, therefore, that John the Baptist was imprisoned (and Christ crucified!). Nor should we be surprised that it was the “Pharisees and the lawyers” who “rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by {John]”, while it was the common people and even the tax collectors people who “declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John”. In their self-righteous pride the “Pharisees and the lawyers” rejected God purpose of salvation in Christ Jesus. But God showed mercy to sinners to draw them to faith and repentance. 

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Suggestions For Application

How might we apply this text to our lives? I have two suggestions. 

One, I would urge you to learn from John the Baptist and to imitate his unwavering faith, his forsaking of the pleasures of this world, and his willingness to suffer – yes, even to die – for the sake of knowing Christ. He was not reed shaken by the wind. He was tempted by soft and luxurious clothing. He was a man of strong faith and unwavering conviction, and he is to be imitated.  

Two, I would urge you to think of the many blessings that are ours through faith in Christ with special attention given to the blessing of the New Covenant. It would be a great error to think that salvation was not possible under the Old Covenant, or that it was obtained in some other way than through faith in Christ alone. The Scriptures are very clear that Abraham was justified in the same way that we are – through faith in Christ alone. But it would also be a great error to think that there is no difference between the Old Covenant and the New. The New Covenant and its blessings are far superior to the Old (see Hebrews). I will not repeat all that I said earlier about the superiority of the New Covenant. I think it will suffice to encourage you to reflect upon the knowledge we have of Christ, his finished work, his victory, and his eternal reward. These truths were revealed in a dim way under the Old Covenant, now we see them clearly. Let us think often of Christ and our salvation in him. Let us draw near to him. And let us rejoice. 

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 35

“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 7:18-23

“The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ And when the men had come to him, they said, ‘John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’’ In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.’” (Luke 7:18–23, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

“Blessed is the one who is not offended by me”, Jesus says. To be offended by Jesus is to fall back from him. To be offended by Jesus is to recoil from him. To be offended by Jesus is to stumble over him. Many, as I am sure you know, are offended by Jesus. 

And people are offended by Jesus for many different reasons. Some fall back from him because he opposes their way of life and exposes their sinfulness. Others recoil from him because of who he claims to be – the Son of God incarnate, and the only way to the Father. And others stumble over him because he was so lowly and humble in his incarnation. He claimed to be the promised one, the King, the Messiah, and yet he was poor, despised, and rejected by men. He suffered in this world, and he calls his followers to suffer in this world too. These are only a few examples of reasons that people are offended by Jesus.

Now to be clear, Jesus was not an offensive person in the way that we typically use that word – never was he obnoxious or rude. But in another sense, Jesus is the most offensive person ever to live. When men and women are told about Jesus – his person and work – when they are exposed to his teachings and confronted with his claims – they are forced to make a decision. They must choose to either receive him or reject him, to run to him or recoil from him, to follow him, or to fall back from him. And we know that Jesus is offensive to many. 

Good friends, we should remember that if God were to leave us to ourselves, we would all reject, recoil, and fall back from Jesus. Left to ourselves we would all be offended by him. The Apostle John explains why. In John 3:19, he speaks of Jesus, saying, “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed” (John 3:19–20, ESV). Again I say, if God were to leave us to ourselves in the darkness of our sin, we would all run from Jesus, just as darkness runs from light. But God, by his grace, has determined to call some to himself by his word and Spirit through faith in Jesus the Messiah. This is what Jesus refers to when he says in John 6:44, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44, ESV). Left to ourselves, we would all be offended by Jesus. But God, by his grace, draws some to himself through Christ, and these will be raised up on the last day. 

When the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus to ask if he really was the one, he sent them back with these words: “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” I take this to be both a statement of fact and an exhortation. First, it is a statement of fact. Those who are not offended by Jesus are blessed of God. God has shown mercy to them. God has called them (externally by the word, and internally by the Spirit). God has opened their eyes to see that Jesus is indeed precious and beautiful, so they are drawn to him. It is a fact that those not offended by Jesus are blessed. But these words are also an exhortation or a warning. It is as if Jesus had said to these disciples of John, be careful that you are not offended by me. Do not fall back from me. Do not recoil from me. Draw near to me instead. Friends, this is a message that you and I need to hear, for I would imagine that many who follow after Jesus are, from time to time, tempted to be offended by him. We must remember the words of our Lord, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” 

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The Question: Jesus, Are You The One Who Is To Come, Or Should We Look For Another?

So the question is, why did Jesus say this to these two disciples of John the Baptist? The answer must be that some who followed John the Baptist were tempted to pull away from Jesus. How could this be? 

We should remember that John the Baptist was a pretty big deal. Luke tells us about his ministry in chapter 3 of his Gospel. It was “during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, [that] the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:2–3, ESV). Luke tells us that this was in fulfillment of things written by Isaiah the prophet. Crowds of people came to be baptized by him. He called them to repentance and preached good news to them. They even wondered if he was the Messiah. He insisted that he was not, but that Jesus of Nazareth was, and so he directed the people to follow Jesus. At one point he spoke of Jesus, saying, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30, ESV). And finally, in Luke 3:18 we read, “So with many other exhortations [John] preached good news to the people. But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison” (Luke 3:18–20, ESV). So John the Baptist was in prison when, looking now at Luke 7:18, “The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” (Luke 7:18–19, ESV). This is a very important fact to remember as we seek to understand why there was doubt amongst the disciples of John. In a very short time, John and his disciples were thrust from extreme popularity into obscurity. 

Let us also pay close attention to the question asked by John’s disciples so that we are clear concerning the meaning. The question asked of Jesus was, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” A more literal translation of the Greek is, are you the coming one? This language of “the coming one”, or “the one who is to come”, should remind us of the preaching of John the Baptist. He said, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16, ESV, emphasis added). And this language of “the coming one” also reminds us of the Old Testament prophesies that use this language in reference to the promised Messiah. For example, in Malachi 3:1-2 the Lord 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. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap” (Malachi 3:1–2, ESV). So, the Messiah was the one who “is coming”. Listen also to Psalm 118:26 which speaks of the Messiah when it says, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!” (Psalm 118:26, ESV). Based upon these prophesies, you can see why the promised Messiah was called “the coming one” or “the one who is to come.” When the disciples of John asked Jesus “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”, they meant, are you really the Messiah, or should we keep looking?

So then, it is clear that some doubts had arisen amongst the disciples of John regarding Jesus, and it is not difficult to imagine some of the possible reasons. 

One reason could be that Jesus and his disciples lived a differnt lifestyle than John and his disciples. Luke 5:33 hints at this when some critics approached Jesus saying, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink” (Luke 5:33, ESV). Matthew also mentions this disagreement in his Gospel, but from a slightly different vantage point. In Matthew 9:14 we read, “Then the disciples of John came to [Jesus], saying, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?’” (Matthew 9:14, ESV). John and his disciples lived an ascetic lifestyle. They lived simply in the wilderness and devoted themselves to fasting and prayer, but Jesus and his disciples lived amongst the people. They ate and drank even with tax collectors and sinners. It seems clear that some of John’s disciples were troubled by this. There question was, why don’t you live like we live? And so some were offended by Jesus. 

Another reason could be that Jesus did not live up to their Messianic expectations. John said Jesus was the Messiah. John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30, ESV). But it is possible that many of John’s disciples were expecting the Messiah to be a strong King who would conquer the Romans, etc. Perhaps many of them did not expect the Messiah to be a lowly, humble, meek, and mild servant who would suffer. We know that many were offended by Jesus because of this. They were ready to follow him so long as he would feed them and meet all of their needs in an earthly way. But when it came time for him to suffer, they fell back. It is certainly possible that there were many among the disciples of John who were struggling to follow Jesus because he was not turning out to be the kind of Messiah they were expecting. 

I’ll mention one other possible explanation for the doubting of John’s disciples: John was in prison. Jesus did not seem interested in setting him free but allowed him to suffer there. And we know that John’s death was near. This must have been a great disappointment to the disciples of John. They knew that Jesus was to increase and John was to decrease – but this? Would Jesus allow John to be diminished to this degree?

And so I imagine that it was for all these reasons (and possibly more) that the disciples of John began to question if Jesus was really the one. Many of them were perplexed, disappointed, and discouraged. 

One question I have is,  was it only the disciples of John who were questioning if Jesus was the Messiah, or did John have doubts too? In previous sermons, I suggested that John had doubts too. I must have been taught this at some point and assumed that this was the case – it was John who was plagued with doubt as he languished in his jail cell with no hope for release, and so he sent his disciples to Jesus to ask this question for his own sake. But as I read commentaries in preparation for this sermon I was struck by how many commentators, ancient and Reformed, took a different view. Many of them insisted that John did not waver in his faith at all, but sent his disciples to Jesus so that their faith in him would be strengthened as they interacted with him.      

John Calvin represents this commonly held view in his Commentary On A Harmony Of The Evangelists:

“The Evangelists do not mean that John was excited by the miracles to acknowledge Christ at that time as Mediator; but, perceiving that Christ had acquired great reputation, and concluding that this was a fit and seasonable time for putting to the test his own declaration concerning him, he sent to him his disciples. The opinion entertained by some, that he sent them partly on his own account, is exceedingly foolish; as if he had not been fully convinced, or obtained distinct information, that Jesus is the Christ… It is very evident that the holy herald of Christ, perceiving that he was not far from the end of his journey, and that his disciples, though he had bestowed great pains in instructing them, still remained in a state of hesitation, resorted to this last expedient for curing their weakness. He had faithfully laboured… that his disciples should embrace Christ without delay. His continued entreaties had produced so little effect, that he had good reason for dreading that, after his death, they would entirely fall away; and therefore he earnestly attempted to arouse them from their sloth by sending them to Christ. Besides, the pastors of the Church are here reminded of their duty. They ought not to endeavour to bind and attach disciples to themselves, but to direct them to Christ, who is the only Teacher. From the beginning, John had openly avowed that he was not the bridegroom, (John 3:29.) As the faithful friend of the bridegroom, he presents the bride chaste and uncontaminated to Christ, who alone is the bridegroom of the Church. Paul tells us that he kept the same object in view, (2 Cor. 11:2,) and the example of both is held out for imitation to all the ministers of the Gospel.” (John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke, vol. 2 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 7–8)

The common interpretation which is found here in Calvin is that it was not John who was doubting, but some of his disciples. Being confined to a prison cell, and being near the end of his life, the best thing that John could do for his disciples was to send them to Jesus so that they might speak with him and witness his deeds. And you will notice that Jesus, after performing many miracles in the sight of these disciples of John, and after speaking with them, sent them back to John, so that John could exhort them further to follow after Jesus the Messiah. I must admit, I like this view and find it compelling. I was always a bit troubled by the thought that John, the one who was set apart from conception to be the forerunner to the Messiah,  would be so easily shaken near the end of his life.

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The Answer: Yes, For The Sick Are Healed, The Dead Are Raised, And The Poor Have The Good News Preached To Them

Whether it was John who was doubting, or the disciples of John only, is somewhat beside the point. The point is that there was some doubt amongst the band of John’s disciples and the solution was to run to Jesus and ask, “are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And you would do well to notice that Jesus did not answer in word only, but first through deed, and then through word. 

Verse 21 says that in the hour after the disciples of John asked their question, “he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight” (Luke 7:21, ESV). In other words, Jesus answered their question by first performing signs and wonders. And only after this did he answer them with his words, saying, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me” (Luke 7:22–23, ESV).

These miracles performed by Jesus were signs that he was indeed the Messiah. He performed these miraculous deeds to confirm that his claims were true. These miraculous deeds were not random but were carefully chosen to fulfill Old Testament Scriptures, particularly Isaiah 35 and 61. 

We read Isaiah 35 at the beginning of this sermon. That prophesy is about the Messiah and what he will accomplish, especially at the consummation. There God speaks to the prophet saying, “Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert…” (Isaiah 35:4–6, ESV). These things will be accomplished in full at the consummation when Christ returns to judge and to make all things new, but you would do well to notice that Christ gave sight to the blind, made the lame to walk, cleansed lepers, made the deaf to hear, and even raised the dead, to demonstrate that he was the one of whom Isaiah spoke. And perhaps you noticed the language of “coming” in that prophesy too. The Lord spoke through the prophet saying, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you” (Isaiah 35:4, ESV). The disciples of John asked, “Are you the one who is to come”. Jesus answered in the affirmative, not by saying “yes”, but by performing the very miracles mentioned in that same prophesy.

Isaiah 61 also stands behind Jesus’ answer. “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me” (Luke 7:22–23, ESV). Isaiah 61 is about the Messiah. It says, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified” (Isaiah 61:1–3, ESV). When Jesus said,  “Go and tell John what you have… heard… the poor have good news preached to them”, this was a reference to Isaiah 61.  Clearly, Jesus was claiming to be the one Anointed by the Spirit (the Messiah) of whom Isaiah 61:1 spoke.

What an incredible answer to the question, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” I suppose Jesus could have simply said, “Yes, I’m the one.” But he gave the disciples of John so much more. In that very hour, he performed miracles before their eyes. And they were not random miracles, but the very miracles mentioned in Isaiah 35. And not only this, he mentioned the proclamation of the gospel to the poor using the language of Isaiah 61. So in this way, he sent these disciples of John back to the evangelist with an exhortation to compare what they had seen with their own eyes and heard with their own ears with the word of God delivered to the prophets long ago. God promised through the prophets that the Messiah would come, and Jesus demonstrated by his actions and his words, that he was the one who was to come.  

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The Exhortation: Blessed Is The One Who Is Not Offended By Me

Finally, Jesus sent these doubting disciples of John back to their teacher with an exhortation or warning: “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me” (Luke 7:23, ESV). In other words, Jesus said, do not be offended by me. Do not recoil or fall back. Instead, obey the words of your teacher John, and follow me. If you do, you will be truly blessed. 

I think it is worth noting that there is a connection between Jesus’ statement, “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me”, and the Isaiah 61 passage that Jesus alluded to when he said, “the poor have good news preached to them.” As you know, Isaiah 61:1 says,  “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor”, etc. (Isaiah 61:1, ESV). But the rest of the passage does speak of the blessing that will come to those who belong to this Anointed One. Verses 8 and following are of particular interest. They say, 

“I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the LORD has blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations” (Isaiah 61:8–11, ESV).

The point that I am attempting to make is that Jesus’ words, “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me”, were filled with a lot of meaning. They were an echo of Isaiah 61:9 and the reference that is found there to “the offspring the LORD has blessed.” 

When Jesus sent these disciples of John back to their teacher (whom Jesus regarded as the greatest of all the prophets) he set them up to receive one heck of a Bible lesson. Can you imagine it? The disciples of John returned to him in the prison, and they said, here is what we saw and heard from Jesus: “the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.” And Jesus also said, “blessed is the one who is not offended by me” (Luke 7:22–23, ESV). I would like to think that John grinned and said, bring me the scroll of Isaiah the prophet, have a seat, and get comfortable. Or to put it in a different way, I would like to think that John used this as an opportunity to do something like what Jesus did with his disciples after his resurrection in the town of Emmaus – “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27, ESV).

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Suggestions For Application

How then does this portion of Scripture apply to us who live so long after these things were accomplished?

One, this passage should prompt you and me to ask, am I offended by Jesus? Are tempted to put back from him? Are you ashamed of him for any reason? The world mocks followers of Jesus. And it may be that you are tempted to pull away from him for this reason. You must remember the words of Christ, “blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Two, the way to not be offended by Jesus is to grow ever more certain that he is the promised Messiah –  the one who was to come. If Jesus is nothing more than an example to you – if he is simply a teacher or some religious guide, then you will easily pull back from him when following him is unfashionable, when the heat of persecution is turned up, or when life does not go the way you wanted it to go. Why? Because you can easily find another more popular and palatable religious teacher or moral guide. But if you are certain that Jesus is the promised Messiah, the only Savior of the world, the way, the truth, and the life, through whom all must come to the Father, then you will not be so easily offended by Jesus and tempted to turn back. Do not forget that Luke wrote his Gospel for this purpose, “that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:4, ESV). Those who are uncertain concerning Christ will easily fall away. Those who are certain will stand. 

Three, your certainty will grow in at least three ways. One, your certainly will grow as you consider Jesus’ works – he healed the sick, raised the dead, and was even raised from the dead himself. Two, your certainty will grow as you consider his words. His teachings are full of truth and light. His claims were marvelous indeed – he claimed to be God with us! And do not forget that his claims were confirmed by the miracles he performed. And three, your certainty that Jesus is the promised Messiah – the only mediator between God and man – will grow as you consider Jesus’ words and works in light of the Old Testament Scriptures, for he came in fulfillment to promises and prophesies previously made. Brothers and sisters, we ought to love the Scriptures. We ought to read the Scriptures often and listen attentively when they are read and preached. We should especially love to see the way that Christ is revealed in the Scriptures, first in the Old Testament, and then in the New. The more we know the Scriptures the more certain we will be that Christ is the Messiah. And the more certain we are concerning his person and work, the more blessed will be in him.