April 17, 2013

“John”

Blessings Folk!

Today’s reading...
Matthew 11:7-19
Mark 1:2
Luke 7:24-35

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The messengers from John left...returning with the Word of the Lord (see yesterday).

Jesus turns to the crowd and asked the same question three times… “What did you go out into the wilderness to see?”

Many questions folk have are answered in this passage.

John was not a shaking reed in the wind.
John was a strong voice of repentance.
John was a prophet...the last prophet of the Old Covenant.
John was the messenger prophesied to come and prepare the way before the Lord.
John was Elijah to those who accept it...to those who believe that Jesus is Messiah.

Jesus then gives some amazing statements…

• From the days of John the Baptist until the moment Jesus spoke this statement the Kingdom of Heaven was suffering violence. Violent men were seeking to take the Kingdom by force. The same occurs today...though we are far more subtle in the violence.
• There is not one born of women who is greater than John...yet…
• The one who is least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than John.

Vivid insight into the salvation of the Kingdom of heaven.

Jesus then speaks of the foolish inconsistency of the generation...we are the same.

Rejoice that you are in the Kingdom!