Missing the Message
I find it interesting that I can seem to sleep well, but then wake up tired. Such was the case today. However, our dog is always ready to be my companion if I need extra rest. Today was an overcast and cool day. I had some meetings that took up most of my day, so with the weather and my schedule I didn’t get my normal workouts in. But I am also trying to be in good shape for tomorrow’s neurologist appointment. This will be my six month follow up and I hope that he notes some improvement since my last visit.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… John came and did not eat or drink like other people. So people say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and people say, ‘Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much wine, and he is a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved to be right by what she does.” Matthew 11:18,19
There is an adage that I use at times which says, “if people can miss the point, they certainly will!” Perhaps that becomes true because, people don’t listen to what others are really saying. I learned that from reporters in politics. They usually didn’t ask follow up questions to clarify meaning, they only took sounds bites that made a good story. At other times people are so quick to judge it is like, “you can’t win for losing.”
That is what we see in these verses that contrast John the Baptist and Jesus. John the Baptist was very disciplined and yes “odd” in his dress and diet. People accused him of having a “demon.” Jesus came and was criticized for eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners. Today you could say, “politicians” and sinners.
The bottom line is that you can’t look to the opinion of people to determine your actions. It is God’s wisdom and direction that is needed. John and Jesus had distinct ministries and roles. We see that John served the fulfillment of the “Elijah” that was to come before the Messiah. So his posture and ministry was similar to the prophet of old.
Jesus came to “seek and save the lost” so he associated with the “up and outers” as much as the “down and outers.” What Jesus says is important is the fruit and faithfulness of the call of our life and the actions we take. Jesus knew His mission, just like John did and the way they lived their life brought the results of their obedience to the Lord.
Just before these observations about John the Baptist and Jesus, Jesus makes the statement, “let those who have ears, listen!” He goes on and gives this assessment of the people…
“What can I say about the people of this time? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace, who call out to each other, ‘We played music for you, but you did not dance; we sang a sad song, but you did not cry.’ (Matt. 11:16-17)
I must admit that for a long time, I didn’t really take notice of what Jesus was saying. But He is letting the people know that they consistently “miss the point or the timing.” They don’t sing or dance when it is time to sing and dance. They don’t mourn when it is time to mourn. They remained in their “own world.”
The challenge for us today is to be “wise” and listening to what God’s Spirit is saying and doing in our time. Just as prophecy was fulfilled with the coming of John the Baptist, there are prophecies that still need to be fulfilled. Just as the Lord had a different role for John than He did for Jesus, the Lord has a unique role for each believer and for the Church at different times. Let’s not be quick to judge and fail to understand, as the New Century Version states it, “Let those with ears use them and listen!”