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JESUS AND JOHN
Luke 7:18-35
Jesus Addresses John’s
Doubts.
"The disciples of John reported to him about all these things. Summoning
two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are You the
Expected One, or do we look for someone else?" When the men came to Him,
they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, 'Are You the
Expected One, or do we look for someone else?' At that very time He
cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He
gave sight to many who were blind. And He answered and said to them, "Go
and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive
sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the
dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. Blessed
is he who does not take offense at Me."
Jesus Vindicates John’s Ministry.
"When the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowds
about John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed
shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in
soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are
found in royal palaces! But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes,
I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet. "This is the one about
whom it is written, 'Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who will
prepare Your way before You.' I say to you, among those born of women
there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of
God is greater than he." When all the people and the tax collectors
heard this, they acknowledged God's justice, having been baptized with
the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's
purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John. "To what then
shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like? They
are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another,
and they say, '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, 'Behold,
a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and
sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children." |
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