Greater, Least, Violent?

Matthew 11:11-15 "...Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke 7:28 "...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...”

Was Jesus disrespecting John the Baptist?

- no one greater on earth.

- but the kingdom of heaven is vastly different than this earth.

How had the kingdom of heaven suffered violence?

- did everyone listen to John's message?

- how did John say the kingdom was to be obtained?

- by humility and repentance.

- how do those who reject John's message think the kingdom is to be obtained?

- by human effort.

- by violently destroying the kingdoms of this earth.

What did God's prophets receive from man throughout history? [violence]

What violence IS necessary to obtain the kingdom?

Matthew 5:30 "...And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell..."

Violence against self will and self indulgence.

Impossible to Please:

Matthew 11:16-19 “...But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, “ ‘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, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds...”

Luke 7:31-35 “...To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 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.’ For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 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!’ Yet wisdom is justified by all her children...”

Context:

- The general population and tax collectors recognized God's justice and the baptism of John.

- The Pharisees and Lawyers were unable to accept God's purpose for their lives.

Why are some people impossible to please?

- like immature children, they want others to respond to their music, not vice versa.

- they don't want limitations and demands for repentance.

- they don't want liberty from their own rules and requirements.

- they are indeed impossible to please.

Who are the most difficult to reach with revealed truth?

- those who are sure they already have the whole truth.

What does 'wisdom is justified by her deeds' or 'by all her children' mean?

- wisdom is proved right by all her children.

- those who were following Jesus and John were proof enough of the correctness of their teaching.

- What were the results? Many were brought into right standing with God.

Hear, See, Be Blessed:

Context:

John the Baptist is sitting in prison for proclaiming truth that people (Herodias) didn't want to hear.

Mark 6:17-19 "...For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not,..."

John the Baptist sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he is the real deal, or is there another.

Jesus responds with reference to hearing, seeing, and not being offended.

Matthew 11:4-6 “...Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me...”

Luke 7:22-23 "...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...”

Why might John the Baptist need reassurance and clarification?

- he had been preaching about the coming Messiah.

- he was expecting the Messiah to overcome wickedness, judge sin, and bring in His kingdom.

- he was now sitting in jail (possibly for a year), about to lose his life.

Do we ever need reassurance and clarification?

How do we get reassurance and clarification?

- hearing and seeing how God has worked through history.

- hearing and seeing how God is working in our world.

- facing our current situations without insisting on our own way.

- not being confused by who Jesus is and what Jesus does, even when it is contrary to our expectations.

Why would someone be offended by Jesus?

- people are offended when their expectations are insulted.

- people are offended when they don't get their own way.

- even John the Baptist appeared to be confused by the coming of a servant King, rather than a ruling King.

When and how has Jesus disappointed you by not performing up to your expectations?

Whose problem is this?

What do you Seek?

Context:

- John's disciples have left.

- Jesus begins to speak to the crowds about John.

Matthew 11:7-10 "...As they went away, 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 wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 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.’..."

Luke 7:24-27 "...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...’

Was John weak and easily shaken like a reed?

- John was a true prophet, sent by God to proclaim the need for repentance.

Malachi 3:1 “...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..."

Isaiah 40:3 "...A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God..."

How did Jesus expect the crowd to view John the Baptist?

- with the utmost respect.

Raising the Dead in Nain:

Context:

- Jesus had healed the centurion's servant from afar.

- A great crowd went with him to Nain, a small village about 20 miles from Caperaum (mentioned only once in scripture).

- He came upon a funeral procession.

- A widow had lost her only son.

- The crowd with Jesus met the crowd from the town.

- Jesus would again interface with real needs, of real people, in the real world.

Luke 7:13-14 "...And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise...”

How did Jesus respond to weeping?

- "...he had compassion..."

Does Jesus respond to our tears?

- blessings may come to us when out of reason we speak and God answers.

- we get our best blessings when out of our afflictions we cry out to him and his compassion replies.

What did the young man do?

- he responded to Jesus' words.

- he sat up, and spoke.

What do we do when Jesus speaks to us?

Is there anything Jesus tells us to do that can't be done?

- no matter how dead we've been, physically or spiritually, we can respond to Jesus.

- we can arise and live when Jesus calls us.

What would happen if Jesus gave a general call to all who were dead?

John 5:25-29 “...Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment..."

How did the people respond to this event?

Luke 7:16 "...Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!...”

- fear and glorification of God.

- recognition of God among them.

Luke 7:17 "...And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country..."

- the truth of His existence and power spread out to the surrounding country. Not only to the whole of Judea, but even to a prison east of the Dead Sea (Next section about John the Baptist)

How would you respond if you went to a funeral and the dead person was raised to life?

Do you remember the lesson from the healing of the official from Capernaum who came to Cana to request healing for his son?

John 4:48 "...So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe...”

- believing He can is different than believing He will.

- believing there is a God is different than believing God is with us.

What was supposed to happen when Jesus touched the funeral bier?

- according to ceremonial laws, He would become unclean.

- this is again the difference that Jesus makes. Instead of a dangerous world making God's people unclean, the presence of Jesus changes the world from unclean to clean.

Recognizing Authority: It exists.

Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10

Context:

- a Roman centurion comes to Jesus (Luke account says elders were sent).

- this man was likely a "Gentile pagan" by birth.

- he was a commander over a garrison of a hundred men.

- he appealed to Jesus regarding a highly valued servant who was sick (paralyzed) and near the point of death.

Was this centurion a typical Roman? (Luke 7:4,5)

- he was well liked by the Jews, having built a synagogue.

What was Jesus' initial response to the appeal?

Matthew 8:7 "...I will come and heal him...”

Luke 7:6 "...And Jesus went with them..."

What was the centurion's response?

Matthew 8:8-9 "...But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it...”

Luke 7:6-8 "...When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it...”

What did Jesus think of the centurion's response?

Matthew 8:10-12 "...When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven..."

Luke 7:9 "...When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith...”

What did the centurion receive because of his belief?

Matthew 8:13 "...And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment..."

What do the faithless receive for their unbelief?

Matthew 8:12 "...while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth...”

Are we believers or unbelievers?

Do we 'presume' to be 'worthy'?

Do we recognize the authority of Jesus?