Matthew 11:1-19
Jesus and John the Baptist
1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
Jesus was out helping those who had a low place in society...He helped the unnoticed, the unremarkable, the excluded, the powerless, and the broken...
And we learn more about this when John the Baptist sent his followers to Jesus to ask Him, if He was the Christ, the Anointed On, that was to come...But instead, Jesus talks much about John...
Jesus told the people following Him about John...He said, “What did you people go out to the desert to see?...Someone who is weak, like a stem of grass blowing in the wind?...Really, what did you expect to see?...Someone dressed in fine clothes?...Of course not...People who wear fine clothes are all in kings’ palaces...So what did you go out to see?...A prophet?...Yes, John is a prophet...But I tell you, he is more than that...This Scripture was written about him: ‘Listen!...I will send My messenger ahead of you...He will prepare the way for You.’...“The truth is that John the Baptizer is greater than anyone who has ever come into this world...But even the least important person in God’s kingdom is greater than John...Since the time John the Baptizer came until now, God’s kingdom has been going forward strongly...And people have been trying to take control of it by force...Before John came, the Law of Moses and all the prophets told about the things that would happen...And if you believe what they said, then John is Elijah...He is the one they said would come...You people who hear me, listen!...
And Jesus told John's followers to tell him this...Go tell John what you have heard and seen: The blind can see...The crippled can walk...People with leprosy are healed...The deaf can hear...The dead are brought back to life...And the Good News is being told to the poor...Great blessings belong to those who don’t have a problem accepting Me.”...
Pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “God is not ashamed of human lowliness but goes right into the middle of it, chooses someone as instrument, and performs the miracles right there where they are least expected...God draws near to the lowly, LOVING the lost, the unnoticed, the unremarkable, the excluded, the powerless, and the broken...What people say is lost, God says is found; what people say is “condemned,”...God says is “saved.”...Where people say No!...God says Yes!...Where people turn their eyes away in indifference or arrogance, God gazes with a LOVE that glows warmer there than anywhere else...Where people say something is despicable, God calls it blessed.”...