Category Archives: Bible passages

1 Peter

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

Live your lives as foreigners here in reverent fear.

Context

Peter is writing to God’s chosen people who are scattered across the globe but who have come to know and believe in the gospel. He describes that Christianity is not to do with land or geography or on material possessions but to do with our relationship with God the Father which goes back before our knowledge of him. What was seriously sort after by the Old Testament prophets and even the angels in heaven, is now here for us. Although we have not seen Jesus, we know him, we believe in him and we love him because what is at work in us is holiness through the Holy Spirit and the blood of Christ. We live in an age where Christ has been revealed and those God has chosen are growing in their joy, love and trust in him.

The structure of this section may remind us of the message of God to Israel once they had been rescued from Egypt and made a people of God. They were to set their minds on worshiping God in the promised land; they were to learn how to be holy; they were commanded to love God and love their neighbour; and all this because they had tasted that the Lord is good.

Observation

Structure

  • 13 With sober minds – set your hope
  • 14-16 As obedient children – be holy
  • 17-21 As children of an impartial judge – revere God
  • 22-25 With purified minds – love one another
  • 2:1-3 As those who have tasted what is good.

13 With sober minds – set your hope

“Therefore” The therefore is there for all the reasons spelled out in verses 1-12. See the context above or the previous verses.

“With minds that are alert and fully sober” Peter calls us to wake up and see reality clearly. Like the person who interrupts jokes and laughter with “now, on a serious note” – Peter challenges his hearers to be clear headed about where their life is headed. This is not simply saying to stay away from alcohol (sober) but is the idea of being clear headed with regards to grace and hope. 1 Thess 5:4-8.

“Set your hope on the grace to be brought to you.” Like the previous section, Peter declares that there is a future inheritance and reality that we are living for now by faith. The whole point in putting our trust in Jesus is for the future reality that will supercede what we think we know right now.

“Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.” The only thing left in the plans of God are for Jesus to return. Acts 1:9-11; 2 Thess 2; 1 Thess 4:16-18.

So, think clearly about life. We are not random beings floating through time and space but we are the people of God. Like people keen to reach a destination, set your minds on where we are going because we know that is where true life is at.

14-16 As obedient children – be holy

“As obedient children” Peter had already mentioned obedience in verse 2 as something that goes hand in hand with being sprinkled with the blood of Christ. He mentions it again in verse 22. We are saved and will therefore choose obedience. Put it another way, even the act of repentance is a declaration that you wish to turn around from rebellion to obedience. There is no works righteousness here. This is the standard teaching of what naturally (or spiritually) follows repentance and forgiveness.

“The evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.” Ignorance is not to be confused with stupidity. God revealed himself to us and prior to that we were ignorant of what we truly needed to know. We must not get too frustrated with how the world acts and thinks since we would be just like that too if it weren’t for the grace of God to reveal truth to us. But there are actions that coincide with ignorance. A baby will throw themselves off a high couch or into a deep pool without a thought of breaking something or drowning. That is ignorance. Deceit, envy and slander flow from an evil heart. Blasphemy and immoral behaviour or joking do not feel out of place to those ignorant of true holiness, righteousness and grace.

“Be holy because I am holy.” This comes from the book of Leviticus (11:44,45; 19:2; 20:7). The end of salvation is for us to be in God’s presence, to be welcome into his house, to dwell with him and he with us, and that we would be like him. Humans were created in His image, and although twisted and distorted by sin, the blood of Christ and the work of the Spirit means that we are being made like him once again. Why should we behave ourselves as Christians? Because God will love us? No, because that is what we were made for – because God is holy.

So, in the context of our relationship with God rather than our relationship with evil, we ought to be holy. This is our aim and agenda. The presence of sin and the battle within our hearts will continue in this life (Romans 7 and 1 John 1:8-9) so that we will fail to be holy in this life – but we pursue it nonetheless because God our Father is holy.

17-21 As children of an impartial judge – revere God

“Since you call on a Father who judges…live…in reverent fear.” It is true that God is merciful and gracious. It is also true that he does not show favouritism (Romans 2:11). Our salvation has not come cheaply to God and to live our lives carelessly would be to dishonour our Father who saved us. We have been told not to conform to the ways of this evil age any more and now are reminded why we ought to think soberly about our salvation too.

“As foreigners here.” Remember being described as sojourners or exiles in Peter’s greeting? This world is not our home, we are just a passin’ through. It is hard to live as a foreigner. The locals find us odd and we do not understand entirely why they don’t follow Jesus too. It will always be like this until Christ returns and is revealed.

“…not with perishable things….but the precious blood of Christ…” This is the second time that Peter has referred to precious things like silver and gold as perishable (1:7) – these are things that the locals who live in this world chase after. But these will all pass away. The precious thing to us is the life and blood of Jesus Christ – our perfect sacrifice without defect.

“…and so your faith and hope are in God.” Peter compares and contrasts the empty teachings and ways of this world with the eternal things of God. Which are you going to put your hope in? Peter’s theology goes back before the creation of the world! And his theology foretells the everlasting future. It begins and continues with God. He prepared the sacrifice from before the creation of the world! Did God know that Adam would sin? He foreknew that you needed to be redeemed! We believe in God and his salvation because he raised Christ from the dead. This verse which ends our present sub-section (verse 21) outlines really what our whole faith and life and hope is based on. Jesus is the reason and evidence for believing in God! Why? Because Jesus was raised from the dead and glorified God, so we put our faith/trust and our hope in God. Want to break Christianity? Disprove the resurrection. Faith that is based on wishful thinking or superstition or just what your grandmother told you to do is weak and foolish. Our faith is grounded on the historic power of God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

22-25 With purified minds – love one another

“…purified yourselves…” The doctrine of grace teaches us that God has chosen us, saved us, and is at work in us to sanctify us. Here, however, we hear Peter say that we purify ourselves. The two thoughts sit hand in hand because it is through the message of the gospel, the word of God, that we understand and learn of the truth and we transform our minds through hearing, retaining and persevering in our understanding of the truth. So, it truly feels like it is our work to listen and understand God for the purpose of obedience. Peter says that we purify ourselves by obeying the truth. We cannot summarise what ‘the truth’ is in a sentence. It is all that God has revealed of himself from Genesis to Revelation. Love God with all your heart and love your neighbour as yourselves is the summary of the commandments. Love flows from our own experience of God’s love first to us. This is how we know what love is: Christ died for sinners.

“…love one another deeply, from the heart.” If you want a real practical application from grace it is to love the brothers and sisters in Christ deeply and sincerely. Those of us (yes me especially) who are task oriented, need to learn and practice loving people sincerely. We have been told to be holy because God is holy. Now we are told to love one another deeply because this is what we know God is like. And we know that through his eternal and imperishable word.

“…through the living and enduring word of God.” Now, I don’t want to rave on about this but I want us all to stop and think about it. The word of God is described as living. It is described as enduring. And it is described as from God! We ought to include all of the following in our minds when we hear the phrase “word of God” – it is the bible because all of it is God-breathed like words are – it is Jesus of course (John 1:1) – and it is any and every message you have heard that carries the very message of the bible, of the gospel and of the kingdom of God. See the end of verse 25: this is the word that was preached to you! Every God-Spirited sermon which proclaims that Jesus is Lord and Saviour is the word of God (not equal to the scriptures since the scriptures are the source and rule for the truth that we preach!).

“For ‘All people are like grass…” See Isaiah 40:6-8. Slight differences in the text of 1 Peter with Isaiah is due to the difference between the Hebrew Old Testament documents and the Greek translated version known as the LXX. It’s easy to see that the meaning has been retained but Isaiah not only declares people to have a fleeting glory or faith but that God simply breaths and they are blown away.

So, our strength is in the word of God. The truth of the gospel is our purification. Our immortality is grounded and preserved in the faith of God through his word which outlasts this world.

2:1-3 As those who have tasted what is good.

The final section here lists what we are to be driven away from and what we are to crave and the reason is that we have already experienced the goodness of God. Grace comes before obedience!

“Therefore rid yourselves…” The response to the word of truth which we put our hope and faith in is to begin to live like citizens of the kingdom of God rather than as citizens of this world. We are aliens and strangers (1:1; 2:11) in this world and need to be sober minded (1:13) and no longer conform to the ways of our ignorant past (1:14). Paul tells us in Colossians 3:5 to put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature. In Romans 13:13, he instructs us to behave like those living in daylight and not darkness. See Mark 7:20-23.

“…malice…” wickedness or evil. This is a general word but the opposite of virtue. The list moves from this general word to some specifics. All the words can be taken to impact community negatively and so be the opposite of “love one another deeply from the heart” (1:22).

“…deceit…” cunning, treachery, error or lies.

“…hypocrisy…” play acting, not authentic – even godless.

“…envy…” a grudging regard for the advantages seen to be enjoyed by others. An inconsiderate zeal. James 3:14, 16

“…slander of every kind.” evil report, secrecy, the wrong use of the tongue, defaming or speaking against.

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk…” This is a command from Peter. Notice how Peter has been talking about Christians as children of the Father (1:14, 17) and “born again (1:23). Now he continues a newborn child metaphore and commands us to crave pure spiritual milk just like a baby instinctively craves and devours milk when they receive it. What is “pure Spiritual milk?” We know it is something that will grow the Christian up. It is to do with salvation. And it is something that we have already tasted? These clues point us to  what Peter has already described for us: the living and enduring word of God (1:23). This is what gave us new birth, and is the truth which we obey. While Hebrews 5:12 and 1 Corinthians 3:1 use the metaphore of milk negatively, it is not used negatively here. We are not to push an identicle use of the metaphore onto all three passages. The context of Peter’s use is that our source of growth has been and always will be the word of God which lasts forever. He is not talking about shallow learning or elementary truths but the entire word of God that is useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3).

“…so that…you may grow up in your salvation…” See the point above and the reference to 2 Timothy 3.

“…now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” This phrase helps us to build upon what that “spiritual milk” is that Peter talks about. It is something that we have already tasted.

Meaning

There are six commands given in this section which all relate to our new life as children of our Heavenly Father: 1. Set your hope God’s promises (Combine 1:13 with 1:3-5); 2. Do not conform to your ignorant past (1:14); 3. Live your life as foreigners here in reverent fear (1:17); 4. Love one another deeply (1:22); 5. Rid yourselves of evil (2:1); 6. Crave the living and enduring word of God (combine 2:2 with 1:23).

Application

  • Topic A – Set your hope on the promises of God. How can you train your mind to be set on the future which God has prepared for us and avoid being fixated on the things of this temporary world? Do memory verses help? What about deliberate times to meditate and talk about the future? Is it sad that we don’t talk about it more often in our community? How can you change your habits or habits among your Christian friends to be setting your eyes and attention on the things to come?
  • Topic B – Living as foreigners in this world. What ways do you think Christians can or ought to appear as foreigners in this world? How does being a born again Christian change the way we do life here? Would you say you are living your life as a foreigner or would you say you are blending in quite well with this world?
  • Topic C – Craving the living and enduring word of God. It is a vivid image to think of a baby guzzling down milk like it cannot wait! What an amazing image to think of us reading, learning, retaining and devouring the word of God like we cannot get enough! Here are 3 suggestions to help you get back to loving the scriptures like this: 1. Write notes during Growth Group and during sermons – it will help engage your brain; 2. Invite a friend to read the bible with you, once a week for 7-8 weeks – speak to your Growth Group leader or one of the ministry team if you want to do this but not sure how; 3. Signup to a bible or theological class and learn something new about the bible and God this year – God’s Big Picture Plus is an excellent course or try on online course through Moore College Distance Learning.

Prayer of the Week

Lord God, we thank you for the new life that we share through Jesus. We thank you for the hope of grace that you have placed in our hearts. Make us a blessing in our community by loving one another deeply and set our hearts truly on the eternal treasures of life with you. May we live as foreigners here in reverent fear and crave your word as life giving food. Amen.

1 Peter, Predestination

1 Peter 1:1-12

He has given us…

Context

Peter was a fisherman, named Simon, before Jesus found him, called him to be a missionary and renamed him The Rock (sorry Dwayne). Like the rest of the Apostles, Peter had to come to know who Jesus really was and to take ownership of the job that Jesus had given him to do (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). Peter was a pillar in the early Christian community (Galatians 2:9 (Cephas means Peter in Aramaic)) and among the apostolic writers who, by the Spirit of God (2 Peter 1:21) spread the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world. As we read the opening of Peter’s letter to the Christian community scattered abroad, let’s see how carefully God has been planning over thousands of years for you and I to enjoy his grace.

Observation

Structure

  • 1-2 Greetings to a scattered people
  • 3-5 Praise God for the future he has made
  • 6-9 Rejoicing through present trials
  • 10-12 Wonder at the work of the Holy Spirit in the past

1-2 Greetings to a scattered people

“Apostle of Jesus Christ” This phrase means that Peter is a ‘sent one’ of Jesus Christ. The word, apostle, has general meanings ranging from ‘sent one’ to ‘commissioned’ and even to ‘fleet’ or ‘admiral’. It is used throughout the New Testament (over 80 times) to refer to a) the 11 commissioned men at Pentecost specifically as well as b) a broader use for anyone who is commissioned by a church to preach the gospel. Peter introduces himself to the churches who read this letter as someone commissioned as a preacher of Jesus Christ.

“To God’s elect…” The letter is addressed to those who Peter calls ‘God’s elect’. We see in the next two phrases that the letter’s readers do not share a geographical location but a choosing by God. See notes below on the various attributes of God’s elect outlined in verse 2.

“Exiles scattered…” If you are exiled, you are a stranger to the place you are living in. The Old Testament contains a large section of writings during the time of The Exile. Peter writes during a time of Christian persecution and uses the same idea of God’s people united even though they are scattered. They are related to one another because of their relationship with God. He is likely referring to Christians being not at home in this world anywhere (Hebrews 11:13). They are sojourners in this world – living temporarily.

“Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia” These are towns of Asia Minor, now known as Turkey. Bordered by the Black Sea in the north, the Aegean sea to the West and the Mediterranean Sea in the South. This letter is designed to be read in several churches. There are no specific names listed in this letter and the multiple towns help us feel included in this letter as God’s elect and strangers scattered in this world.

“Who have been chosen” This relates back to the title of God’s elect. The reader’s relationship with God is the important element of this letter and this relationship starts with God. The rest of the sentence gives three or four elements to this election. They relate to the three persons of the Trinity. One cute observation is that the first council of Nicea where the doctrine of the trinity is put to paper was held in Nicea of Bithynia – one town that Peter writes to.

“according to the foreknowledge of God the Father” Exactly how God’s foreknowledge works is open to debate but Peter is clearly saying that God knew beforehand who would be saved and who would respond to this letter as the elect. The Greek word for ‘foreknowledge’ is prognosis. It has been God’s initiative operating in the reader’s lives even before they were aware of it. 1 Peter 1:20 uses the same word to talk about Christ’s death as foreknown. We are chosen by God because he has foreknown us and decided to call us even before we were aware of his decision. Note also that we are able to call God Father!

“Through the sanctifying work of the Spirit” How we came to respond to the calling of God is through the efforts of the Holy Spirit. This work is to set us apart and make us holy. The work of the Spirit occurs with direct connection to our spirit (Romans 8:14-16) and through the preaching and reading of the word of God (2 Timothy 3:15-17).

“To be obedient to Jesus Christ” Thirdly, we are chosen by God to be obedient to Jesus Christ. He is the first and the last. He is the Lord of all. We cannot be in relationship with God apart from him (John 14:6). There is no other way under heaven and earth by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12). And so, any effort by mankind to be better and good enough for God apart from being obedient to Jesus Christ is foolish and damning. Nice people will go to hell unless they bow their knee to Jesus.

“And sprinkled with his blood”. Fortunately, it is not our efforts to follow Jesus which justifies us but it is the sprinkling with his blood. The important word in this sentence is ‘his’. Leviticus has taught us that it is the sprinkling of blood by an offering without defect that will bring atonement. And here we see that it is by Jesus’ blood that we are saved.

So, before we knew anything, God has chosen who will be children (calling him Father) and he has called them through the work of the Spirit and the redemptive work of Jesus who is our Lord.

3-5 Praise God for the future he has made

“Praise be to God” This next section (verses 3-5) outline reasons for us to praise God and focus our hearts and minds on the future mapped out for his elect.

“Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” Again on the doctrine of the Trinity: Jesus is the son of the Father. Check out the Start Living course if you don’t know the importance of this!

“He has given us…” For no other reason than his mercy, look at what he has given us…

“New birth” The concept of being born again (John 3) is very Christian and an analogy to explain why we feel like strangers in this world and why Christians prefer to talk about their testimony rather than their religion. Peter describes this more in 1:23. Our new birth is not reincarnation where we re-enter the world as flesh again. But it is an imperishable existence. This is our birth to eternal life and it comes through our knowledge of God through his word and promises.

“Into a living hope” We do not have a dead hope, a futile hope, or without hope (Eph 2:12; 1 Thess 4:13). As we look to our future, we see life as much as our Saviour is alive since it is through his resurrection from the dead that we have this living hope.

“Into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” We do not mark our inheritance by land on this earth because that will pass away, but our inheritance is unspoiled and eternal. Peter goes on in verse 24 to describe people and all that we boast in as like grass that is here one minute and then gone – but the word of God, the promises of God, the living hope that we have endures forever!

“Kept in heaven for you.” Not only is our salvation by God’s foreknowledge, but our inheritance is kept secure by him. We lay in the sandwich of God’s promises.

“Who through faith are shielded…until the coming of salvation” We finally see something of our responsibility and it is faith or belief with trust. The coming salvation does not refer to a future when we will be saved, that is already described and we trust this to be so, but there will come a day when what we believe by faith will be seen without a doubt. It’s the difference between the promise of having something and the reality of seeing it in your possession.

So, we praise God for putting in our care his promises to keep us and protect us until our salvation is matured. This world will pass away but our hope is not in this world. Our living Saviour has given us a living hope.

6-9 Rejoicing through present trials

Next we look at rejoicing now even when we experience trials. It is not the present trials that will give us joy, but all that has been made clear in verses 3-5! We don’t focus on the bad weather now, but rejoice in the promise of sunshine in the morning.

“These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith…may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.” There is genuine faith and there is ingenuine or temporal faith. The faith that stands the trials of this world will receive praise and glory when this world is done away with. God knows that those who are his elect will not fail the test. Genesis 22 illustrates God’s great test upon Abraham to see if his faith is genuine. The book of Job illustrates God’s confidence in Job to withstand the torments of Satan because God was sure of his faith. Trials and temptations will prove our faith to be true or false. Keep in mind that our faith is focuses on all that God has and is and will do for us through Christ. It requires knowledge, reflection and conviction of what is real and lasting. Also keep in mind that failing in our walk is not the same as falling away.

“Of greater worth than gold” Now this is gold! Our faith is more important than any material thing you can imagine. Our faith is worth more than gold, or any temporal form of security. Even gold will perish.

“Though you have not seen him…and…do not see him now.” Our faith is not based on seeing Jesus with our own eyes, but on our growing understanding of who he is and what he has done and our living relationship with Jesus through his word. Jesus left this earth soon after his resurrection. He left the message of the kingdom of God in the hands of the apostles and knew that the future of the church would not depend on people seeing Jesus physically, but on people seeing him spiritually and knowing him deeply through the testimony of the apostles. And even Peter writes to believers who have never seen Jesus.

“You love him…you believe in him…you are filled with and inexpressible and glorious joy…” These are marks of genuine faith. Not only will our faith withstand the trials of this world but we will increase our love and faith in Jesus as our hearts increase with the joy and peace in believing.

“For you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” Again, our focus is not on the here and now but on what God is doing in us for the future. Ephesians 2:8-10 describes our salvation for the purpose of God completing the work that he began in us. The question we and the world we live in really needs to start asking again is: how can we be saved! What will become of my soul after this life? The Christian knows the answer. Peter has been describing it for 5 verses now.

So, our joy is not in the immediate circumstances of life but in our hope grounded in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Where do we seek joy? Common answers to this might include holidays, weekends relaxing or with friends or on adventures, evenings by the TV, successfully completing a project or a goal. But all of these things will perish and fade. What is more valuable and provides full joy that lasts forever (Psalm 16:11) is our knowledge of God the Father, through the Lord Jesus Christ, by His Spirit.

10-12 Wonder at the work of the Holy Spirit in the past

What do we know about this salvation? Where did the idea of Jesus’ sacrifice come from? How ancient is our faith? How can we know that what the apostles talked about can really be something that outlasts time? Peter turns to talk about this salvation and describes what the prophets of the Old Testament hoped for.

“The prophets…spoke of the grace that was to come to you…” The prophets wrote and spoke about what God had revealed to them by the Spirit. And, Peter explains, they knew that they were talking about something that they would not see in their lifetime. They didn’t write simply to the readers that were alive in their time but more profoundly, they knew that they were writing about things that would be fulfilled after they were dead. Verse 12, “It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have been told you.”

“Searched intently and with the greatest of care…” These verses don’t need much fleshing out but it is amazing how Peter describes the prophets as serious seekers of God rather than just puppets who said whatever they were told. They knew what was being revealed to them and looked intently into the mystery of the gospel which would one day be made clear to all who would listen. The New Testament is mostly made up of teaching on how the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ completes the messages of the Old Testament. We learn in this section how the Old Testament is indeed written for us. The whole bible is for our edification.

“That have now been told you.” Now we live in the age of people telling us about Jesus and what it means to be saved. But deeper knowledge of the gospel comes through our serious investigation into the word of God just as the prophets did. How foolish are people when they only know the bible so shallowly or not at all! When it comes to salvation of the soul, laziness and she’ll be right will not do. But growing in our amazement and joy of all that God has done for us and all that he has promised in us – this is where genuine faith will be found.

“Even the angels long to look into these things.” The least we can say about this is that even the angels see that we are blessed to know the gospel now. Luke 15:10 describes angels rejoicing over the repentance of one sinner – interested and observing salvation. Rather than feeling like an alien, stranger and exile in the world with no status or privilege to boast about, those chosen by God are in a position which even the angels above admire.

Of all the times to be alive in human history, it is a supreme privilege to be alive in the period of history following the coming of Christ, when the gospel is clearly preached. (K.H. Jobes, from his commentary on 1 Peter)

Meaning

God is worthy of our praise and worship because, in the past, he knew us and chose us and called us to be his. And he has given us knowledge of the gospel, through the Spirit and by the blood of Christ, we can call God Father as he is Jesus’ Father. The prophets of old knew there was something greater coming and we now live in the age where the gospel is freely preached. We may be living as strangers in this world but we are not to be pitied. Those who do not look into the salvation of their souls with serious endeavour are to be pitied. Our inheritance was pre-purchased and is kept safe for us. The suffering we endure today will be nothing compared to the glory that we will see and receive when this world has passed away!

Application

  • What would you say to a person commenting that Christians are just naive and brain-washed, wasting their life following a foolish faith?
  • See if you can memorise verses 3 and 4!
  • It is the greatest trial of any Christian to take our eyes off the things of this world and to keep them fixed on Jesus, the source of our living hope. “You love him…you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” Discuss ways you can keep working on the important things in life – our faith which is worth more than gold.

Prayer of the Week

Our Father in heaven, we give you thanks and praise that you have called us and given us an eternal hope that will never perish or spoil or fade. We pray that our lives will reflect the joy you give us in knowing you and putting our hope and trust in you. Deliver us from empty desires which promise nothing but protect our souls forever. Amen.

Luke

Luke 7:18-35

A reed swayed by the wind?

Context

The previous section of Luke described a scene where Jesus raised a widow’s son from the dead. It was reminiscent of the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17. In both stories, the conclusion was made that a great prophet of God has arrived. It could seem confusing to some whether Jesus is the Messiah or the one like Elijah who was to come. All of the pieces of Luke’s investigation on Jesus is coming to the conclusion that Jesus is Lord and our passage this week describes Jesus assuring both John the Baptist and the crowd around him that the kingdom of God is right under their nose, it just won’t be like you expect.

Observation

Structure

  • 18-20 John the Baptist’s question
  • 21-23 Jesus’ cryptic answer
  • 24-28 Jesus’ cryptic description of John
  • 29-35 Jesus’ cryptic description of ‘this generation’

18-20 John the Baptist’s question

“John’s disciples told him all these things” Verse 20 establishes that this is John the Baptist and the only John the reader would naturally think about given the great attention to his birth in the first two chapters. We know that John had disciples (followers/students) from passages like this one and also John 1:35-37 where two of his disciples become Jesus’ disciples. Also, Jesus’ disciples refer to them in Luke 11:1 when they want Jesus to teach them to pray. According to Matthew 11:2, John the Baptist is in prison when he calls for his disciples and sends them to Jesus to ask if he is the one.

“Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” It’s a good question. We don’t want to follow the wrong Messiah (Brian). It’s hard to get inside John’s head to know what he really wants. There are two schools of thought on this question: the first is that John, who is now locked away in prison, seeks assurance that Jesus is the Christ; the second is that he is subtly pointing his disciples to go and see Jesus and so continuing even in prison to point people to the Messiah. This last view grasps onto the idea that John is somehow faultless in his testimony of Jesus. After all, Jesus declares him as the greatest man ever to have lived in verse 28. I think this view is weak, however. Firstly, he only sends two of his disciples – why not send them all? Secondly, his ministry has been all about preparing people for the coming of Jesus and he himself declared Jesus to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world! Surely his disciples had grasped that message by now. Thirdly, Jesus statement in verse 23 fits well with assuring John that he ought not to stumble but rather carry on believing that Jesus is the Messiah.

To list references to Christ’s coming from the Old Testament is like finding hay in a haystack. Sure, there are clearer passages to list such as Isaiah 7:14 regarding a virgin birth; Isaiah 62:11 regarding the redeemer coming; Zechariah 2:10 declaring that God will dwell among Israel; Zechariah 9:9 describing the king riding on a donkey. Others, like the one Jesus uses himself from Isaiah 61:1-2, appear more obscure as to who it is referring to. But the way we read the whole bible is to see it as an unfolding narrative of God’s salvation to the ends of the earth. From creation to recreation. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Having said this, Jesus goes on to highlight a few images from Isaiah in his cryptic answer to John’s question.

21-23 Jesus’ cryptic answer

“At that very time…” The language sounds as though Jesus crammed all the types of healing into one magic show in the presence of the two disciples of John! But rather, we can be satisfied to know that at the time that this question came to him, Jesus had been doing all that is listed in verse 21. That is, his ministry at that time was characterised as healing many.

“Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard…” See these passages to shed light on what Jesus is saying to John: Isaiah 29:18, 19; 35:5, 6; 61:1, 2; Luke 4:18. His ministry is badged with these wonders. They point to new life, restored creation and release from captivity.

“Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” The Messiah has come, but he is not what many had expected. This is because the Old Testament mixes the language of the first coming of Christ with the second coming so that he can be described as both the suffering servant (Isaiah 52-53) and the mighty warrior king (Isaiah 60 esp verses 15-19). Our world has witnessed the first coming of Christ which was accompanied with signs and wonders but also his suffering. Note that Isaiah 61 can describe the release from captivity as though it is a national promise while Jesus seems to apply it spiritually. Blessed are those who don’t stumble or give up on him but who remain a disciple. He is the king promised.

24-28 Jesus’ cryptic description of John

“What did you go out into the wilderness to see?” I believe this helps us to see how much of an impact that John had in his ministry that Jesus can simply refer to John without naming him but by asking the crowd to reflect on the time he was in the wilderness.

“…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.” This sounds very wise but what does Jesus mean? In general terms, he places humility and lowliness in this world as a greatness in kingdom terms. We can compare this quote with the beatitude of Luke 6:20-26. More specifically though, Jesus describes John in verses 24-27 as neither double minded (a reed swayed by the wind), nor rich and indulgent, but a man of God speaking the mind of God into this world and pointing others to Jesus. That’s important in the kingdom of God.

29-35 Jesus’ cryptic description of ‘this generation’

“(All the people…baptised by John)” Verses 29-30 illustrate the softening and hardening of hearts. Those who had already accepted John’s ministry were fans of Jesus at this point while those who had already rejected John’s ministry were pushed even further away by Jesus’ comments. This describes the human nature quite well.

“…this generation?” This is unlikely to mean something like ‘gen-Y’ or ‘gen-0AD’ but referring to people of any age. The word ‘generation’ in this context likely refers to an age or epoch. If it is more limited than that then Jesus is describing the people he has observed during his ministry. How, then, does Jesus describe people?

“We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance…did not cry.” It’s a cryptic little riddle. Verses 33-34 is supposed to shed light on it but only makes it more intriguing. The phrase ‘He has a demon’ leads us to see Jesus is mostly describing the Pharisees and the like who rejected John’s ministry and were not baptised. So to say that he is describing all people alive in his day with the term ‘this generation’ is misleading. It seems clearer now that he is referring to people of this age or of this world. So, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t seems to be the notion of the riddle. If you minister like John did, neither eating nor drinking wine, you are labelled evil. If you go eating and drinking you are labelled a friend of evil-doers!

Here we begin to see a theme in the whole passage of verses 18-35. How should we judge Jesus’ ministry? It fits perfectly with the prophecies and so do not stumble on account of him but follow him. How shall we judge John’s ministry? He was not a doubting and double-minded man but a humble man of God pointing all and everyone to the kingdom of God. How shall we judge this generation? They are double minded and like children having a tantrum because nothing seems right to them.

“But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” Does Jesus summon the ideas of Proverbs 8 here where wisdom is personified and all who listen to her are her children? “For those who find me (wisdom) find life and receive favour from the LORD. But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.” Proverbs 8:35-36 (see also 32-33). There seems to be a parallel with verses 35 and 29 where Jesus and John represent wisdom (ultimately Jesus) and the children are those who listened to them and followed. They contrast the children of the marketplace who have double standards and demand that their way is always right. The children of folly are double-minded while the children of wisdom will see the truth and not stumble.

Meaning

There are those who will see Jesus and declare that he is the One who was promised to come. Others will sway in their decisions and stumble because Jesus is not who they want for a Messiah.

Application

Topic A – Stumbling at Jesus. Are there aspects of who Jesus is or what he has done or promised that stick with you and bother you? Your group may not be able to resolved issues for you here and now but perhaps raising them will give your group something to work on theologically and to pray for in community.

Topic B – Great at humility. Reflect on Jesus’ description of John in verses 24 to 28 and ponder how we can seek to be great in the kingdom of God instead of the kingdom of this age. Consider the following bible verses on humility…

“For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with salvation.” Psalm 149:4
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3-4
“…if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Prayer for the week

Save us, Lord, from the whims of our own generation and anchor us in wisdom that leads to life. Amen.