#49 John Sends Disciples to Jesus
Please first read:
Matthew 11:2-30; Luke 7:18-35
Jesus continues his ministry in Galilee.
He has drawn crowds of people but there has been opposition … many people
refuse to repent and believe. He has just left Nain and word of his raising the
dead son of the widow has gone throughout all Judea and Samaria. It is now
summer and John the Baptist (JB) has been in Herod’s prison at Machaerus Castle
since last fall. It is possible that news of the events at Nain have already
reached John. There is no question in JB’s mind regarding Jesus. He knows Jesus
is the Messiah, the Son of God. He is now trying to get his faithful disciples
to understand they are to leave JB; his mission for God is through. They are
now to transfer their allegiance to the one for whom John prepared the way. It
is understandable they would be reluctant to leave John, and him in prison as
well. Since Jesus in now in the area John may very well wonder if Jesus intends
to free him from prison. This action by JB of sending his disciples to Jesus is
a final great testimony that Jesus is the Lamb of God. He is relying on their
seeing and hearing the Master, the Spirit will prompt them to go to this
greater light.
Points considered in these scriptures:
·
Getting
JB’s followers to now follow Jesus
·
Jesus’
efforts to make this happen … he does not say “yes” to their question
·
Jesus
testifies of John the Baptist
·
The
people have had two different messengers from God testify of the Messiah who is
now here … many have refused both of them
·
Jesus
testifies of himself
John’s disciples come and ask Jesus if he
is the One, the Messiah, or should they be looking for another. Instead of
saying “yes” Jesus makes them think of the marvelous things they have seen, and
heard him do, and then sends them back to John who will give testimony and
confirmation of Jesus as the Messiah. A new age has dawned … new words and new deeds
are appearing. They are seeing and
hearing these events against the many-centuries-taught expectation the Messiah
will come with great power and over-throw all Israel’s enemies. (They expect
the second coming.)
When they went out to see JB who and what
did they expect to see? A reed shaking in the wind … someone fickle, of easy
persuasion? Someone clothed in soft raiment … someone weak, unsure? What they
did see was a prophet in the style of the Old Testament dispensation … rough, strong,
forceful, unbending, fearless. They reject John, they believe he has devil in
him.
Now Jesus comes with a sympathetic, loving
heart, healing and helping, and they call him a “winebibber, a friend of publicans
and sinners. He offers evidence of being the Messiah and teaches from Old
Testament prophecies (Isaiah and others) that the time of salvation has come, but
they reject him also.
Luke 7:28: No greater prophet than John
the Baptist.
·
He
was chosen to prepare the earthly way before the Lord. A signal honor.
·
He
baptized the Savior.
·
He
was the only legal administrator with Priesthood keys and powers on earth in
the Eastern Hemisphere.
Matthew 11:11; Luke 7:28:
“he (Jesus) that is least in the kingdom
of God is greater than he (John.)”
Joseph Smith said: “Jesus was looked upon
as having the least claim in God’s kingdom, and (seemingly) was least entitled
to their credulity as a prophet; as though he had said, “He that is considered
the least among you is greater than John – that is I myself.” (“Teachings of
the Prophet Joseph Smith,” p.276)
Matthew 11: 16-19; Luke 7:31-35:
“What illustration can I choose to show
how petty, peevish, and insincere are you unbelieving Jews? You are like fickle
children playing games; when you hold a mock wedding, your playmates refuse to
dance; when you change the game to a funeral procession, your playmates refuse
to mourn. In like manner you are only playing at religion. As cross and
capricious children you reject John because he came with the strictness of the
Nazarites, and ye reject me because I display the warm human demeanor that
makes for pleasant social intercourse.” (“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary,” volume
one, Bruce R. McConkie)
Matthew 11:20-24:
“Woe,” Judgement of the cities … Chorazin,
Bethsaida, Capernaum. Translation of the word “woe” means/reveals judgement not
as a curse but more as pity and sorrow than anger. Capernaum was Jesus’ home city for his work
in this Galilee area. It was beautiful, well-populated, on the Sea of Galilee,
economically prosperous with fishing, agriculture, and a commercial center.
There was a toll station there … caravan routes passed through … and a military
post. Jesus did much of his teaching here and in the surrounding cities and
areas. This passage is a strong warning as to the unbelief of these cities. In
the final wars between Rome and the Jews, Capernaum and the surrounding towns
were obliterated; this area was almost totally destroyed. Only the ruins of a
later synagogue remain.
Prophet Spencer W. Kimball:
President Kimball loved to walk in the
paths of Jesus. He once visited the site of the three cities mentioned herein
and shared the following in a Conference talk in April 1961:
“We asked our guide for the cities in
which Jesus lived and performed so many miracles, for we remember that in this
area of but few miles, much of his work was done, much of his ministry was
accomplished. We would like to walk through the triplet cities he so often
visited: Bethsaida, Chorazin, and Capernaum. We see no spires nor towers, nor
walls. We ask our guide: Where is
Chorazin? He shakes his head. There is no Chorazin. We conclude it must have been
on those hills where now are sprouting grain and vegetables and dry weeds.
“Then where is Bethsaida? We ask. Where is
that noted city where so many sick were healed and the lame were made to walk;
where deaf could hear and lepers lost their curse? Where is his favorite place
he often lodged, the home of Andrew, Peter, and Philip, his dearest
friends? Where is Bethsaida? the house
of fishers, the place of miracles, the seat of gospel teachings, where
fishermen became apostles? In these very few miles much of interest happened.
Where is Bethsaida? Our guide shakes his head again. There is no Bethsaida.
“Capernaum, then? We ask. Where is that
important place, the port where fish were loaded, traded, marketed? He shakes
his head again, then smiles as he thinks it through and changes the accent, and,
Oh, you mean CaperNAUM. He shows us the ruins of a large synagogue. If this is
of the Messianic period … it is the sole survivor. A back wall, great stones
tumbled in disarray. But (this IS)
Capernaum, his own city, the great Capernaum, the haughty, wicked rebellious,
Capernaum!”
Glenn R. McGettigan
February 2016
References:
“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.”
Volume 1. McConkie
“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage
“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark
“Complete Biblical Library: Matthew and
Luke.”
“Communicator’s Commentary: Mathew and
Luke.”
“Companion Study of the New Testament.”
Ludlow
