A New Devotion - Lucky Us

Here's a new devotion that I wrote. You can find a recording of this devotion at the bottom of the page.

Luke 7:18-35

The disciples of John reported all these things to him. So John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" When the men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?'" Jesus had just then cured many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."

When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who put on fine clothing and live in luxury are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." (And all the people who heard this, including the tax collectors, acknowledged the justice of God, because they had been baptized with John's baptism. But by refusing to be baptized by him, the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves.)

"To what then will 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 wailed, 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, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children."

Lucky Us

Sometime I imagine how it might have actually been back in the day, you know, following Jesus Christ in the flesh. I mean, just think of it, being right there as Jesus performed his miracles and taught his parables. And to be able just to soak it all in and then to ask questions, now tell me that wouldn’t have been sweet. I can’t imagine a greater blessing than to have been able to sit at the feet of the Son of God and listen.

And I guess that’s why I find what he said in this passage so jarring. When describing John the Baptist, Jesus said, “I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John...” Of course, with this I concur. And if Jesus had stopped right here and then went on to slam the Pharisees, I’d have been fine. But right after affirming John, Jesus said, “... yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” In other words, people like you and me are greater than John, which I frankly find both mind-blowing and confusing.

But you know, if we pause and think, maybe Jesus hit the nail on the head. I mean, even though John was great, he still struggled with faith. That’s why he sent his disciples to find out whether Jesus was the one or if they should wait for another. And I think the reason he did that was clear and simple; we have something that John lacked, and I’m talking about the Holy Spirit. And as to the miracles and teachings, we have an entire book dedicated to the one we worship, one that we can read and reread anytime we want. And this was something else neither John nor the disciples had. And so, I guess when it comes to following Jesus, lucky us.