Wednesday, February 08, 2012
What
will others see in me?
Luke 7: 24-28
24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
Jesus used the occasion of John the Baptist’s inquiry to teach the people about John’s ministry and to give him commendation. It’s one thing to have other people say nice things about you; it’s entirely another ball game to have Jesus say nice things about you. Jesus asks a penetrating question of the people, “What did you go out to see in the desert?” In other words, what did you see in John the Baptist? We should reflect on the same question – what do people see in me? Jesus answers his own question with some pretty powerful characteristics of John.
John was a man of stability. He wasn’t a reed swaying in the wind. He had roots. He had convictions. He didn’t vacillate. He wasn’t driven by popular opinion. He stood on the teachings from the word of God. He was spiritually maturing. Paul writes about spiritual stability in Ephesians 4. He encourages us to mature in our faith, to grow in our knowledge of the Son of God and to become mature. “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there (like reeds) by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.” (Eph. 4: 14, parenthesis mine). Do other people see spiritual stability in me?
John was a prophet of God. People were not drawn to him by his clothes. They were drawn to him by his message. I don’t think Jesus is instructing us to not wear nice clothes. I believe the message is not to let temporal things be the only thing people see in us. John spoke the word of God. John lived the word of God. John stood in the gap between culture and God. Do we? Do people see God’s love and word in us?
John was a man of humility. This is what John said about his relationship with Jesus, “He (Jesus) must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30). John wanted Jesus to be seen in him more and more. Jesus called John great but John wanted Jesus to be great in his life. Do we desire others to see Jesus in us? Am I humbling myself in order for that to happen?
It’s important to understand verse 28. “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” It’s that last phrase that gets confusing. Jesus was not declaring that John was not part of the kingdom of God. John had been preaching the same message of repentance that Jesus was preaching. Jesus was saying that being a great prophet is not nearly as great as being a member of his kingdom. It’s not what we do in the kingdom that is important; it’s being in the kingdom.
What will others see in me? A person of spiritual maturity? A messenger of God? A humble servant? These are the things that Jesus saw in John and that I want him to see in me!
Prayer: Lord, may others see Jesus in me, everyday, in everything I do. May you get the glory from my life. Thank you for making me a citizen of your kingdom. Amen.
Luke 7: 24-28
24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
Jesus used the occasion of John the Baptist’s inquiry to teach the people about John’s ministry and to give him commendation. It’s one thing to have other people say nice things about you; it’s entirely another ball game to have Jesus say nice things about you. Jesus asks a penetrating question of the people, “What did you go out to see in the desert?” In other words, what did you see in John the Baptist? We should reflect on the same question – what do people see in me? Jesus answers his own question with some pretty powerful characteristics of John.
John was a man of stability. He wasn’t a reed swaying in the wind. He had roots. He had convictions. He didn’t vacillate. He wasn’t driven by popular opinion. He stood on the teachings from the word of God. He was spiritually maturing. Paul writes about spiritual stability in Ephesians 4. He encourages us to mature in our faith, to grow in our knowledge of the Son of God and to become mature. “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there (like reeds) by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.” (Eph. 4: 14, parenthesis mine). Do other people see spiritual stability in me?
John was a prophet of God. People were not drawn to him by his clothes. They were drawn to him by his message. I don’t think Jesus is instructing us to not wear nice clothes. I believe the message is not to let temporal things be the only thing people see in us. John spoke the word of God. John lived the word of God. John stood in the gap between culture and God. Do we? Do people see God’s love and word in us?
John was a man of humility. This is what John said about his relationship with Jesus, “He (Jesus) must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30). John wanted Jesus to be seen in him more and more. Jesus called John great but John wanted Jesus to be great in his life. Do we desire others to see Jesus in us? Am I humbling myself in order for that to happen?
It’s important to understand verse 28. “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” It’s that last phrase that gets confusing. Jesus was not declaring that John was not part of the kingdom of God. John had been preaching the same message of repentance that Jesus was preaching. Jesus was saying that being a great prophet is not nearly as great as being a member of his kingdom. It’s not what we do in the kingdom that is important; it’s being in the kingdom.
What will others see in me? A person of spiritual maturity? A messenger of God? A humble servant? These are the things that Jesus saw in John and that I want him to see in me!
Prayer: Lord, may others see Jesus in me, everyday, in everything I do. May you get the glory from my life. Thank you for making me a citizen of your kingdom. Amen.
Comments:
<< Home
Amen.
Pastor,
Do you think that sometimes in our flesh ( unintentionally) we want others to see Jesus in us so they will know we are good people? It gets confusing sometimes and I have to remind myself that Jesus needs to be seen in me so He can be lifted up not me.
Pastor,
Do you think that sometimes in our flesh ( unintentionally) we want others to see Jesus in us so they will know we are good people? It gets confusing sometimes and I have to remind myself that Jesus needs to be seen in me so He can be lifted up not me.
# posted by 
: 3:44 PM
: 3:44 PM << Home
Post a Comment