July 30, 2010
"IT DON’T MAKE SENSE"
Luke 7:18-35
Martin Massinger
Central Truth
Having a clear understanding of Christ’s mission in His first and second advents offers the proper perspective on human suffering in general, as well as our own personal struggles.
Key Verse | Luke 7:19
"Are you the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?" (Luke 7:19b)
Luke 7:18-35
Messengers from John the Baptist
18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 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?” 20 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?’” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers 1 7:22 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
24 When John's messengers had gone, Jesus 2 7:24 Greek he began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 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. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’
28 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.” 29 (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, 3 7:29 Greek they justified God having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)
31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,
‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’
33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”
Dive Deeper | Luke 7:18-35
An old tune by Willie Dixon, the legendary bluesman, recalls many of the great achievements of 20th century technology, but it ends with the lamentation, “You make the deaf man hear and the dumb man speak; But it don’t make sense you can’t make peace.” In Luke 7 John the Baptist would have empathized—he was depressed and confused.
To place the story in context, Jesus was gaining fame throughout Galilee by performing spectacular miracles: restoring hearing, sight, and mobility; curing leprosy; and even raising the dead. All this while John the Baptist, His cousin and a prophet in the mold of Elijah, was rotting in Herod’s dungeon for the crime of condemning the king’s adultery. Frustrated and impatient, John sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?” (Luke 7:19b) In essence, “It don’t make sense you can’t make peace—you can free all these people from their physical bondage, but what about a little justice for me?”
But before piling on John, I have to ask myself how often I express the same attitude toward God’s care: “Where’s the justice for me and my needs?” Or if I’m feeling particularly altruistic, what about the terrible suffering and injustice throughout the world? If we’re honest, aren’t we sometimes tempted to “look for another”?
For us, as well as for John, the answer lies in understanding that Christ’s role as Messiah involved both offering Himself as Israel’s king and accomplishing our redemption through His death and resurrection. That’s something far easier for us than it was for John because we have the benefit of God’s complete revelation. John couldn’t know that all God’s purposes for humanity wouldn’t be finally accomplished until Christ’s future second advent to establish worldwide, eternal justice under God’s sovereign rule.
So from my limited perspective, it still "don’t make sense," but through the eyes of faith, John the Baptist and I can both rest assured of God’s future reconciliation of “all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of [Christ’s] cross . . . .” (Colossians 1:20)
Discussion Questions
1. How do verses like Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28, Philippians 4:6-7, and 1 Peter 5:6-7 help us put our personal struggles in perspective and give us hope?
2. When Jesus was in agony anticipating His crucifixion (Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:40-46), what point did He reach with the Father that shows His eternal perspective regarding His suffering?
3. What Willie Dixon original was covered by Howlin’ Wolf, Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, The Grateful Dead, The Doors, Big Mama Thornton, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, among others?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What was John’s question for Jesus (verses 19-20)?
2. What did Jesus do right then to show that He was the Messiah that John had prophesied about (verse 21)?
3. What have you seen happen in either your life or the lives of people around you that show you Jesus is real?