The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

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( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Luke:7:18-35

kjv@Luke:7:18 @ And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.

kjv@Luke:7:19 @ And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

kjv@Luke:7:20 @ When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

kjv@Luke:7:21 @ And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

kjv@Luke:7:22 @ Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

kjv@Luke:7:23 @ And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

kjv@Luke:7:24 @ And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

kjv@Luke:7:25 @ But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.

kjv@Luke:7:26 @ But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

kjv@Luke:7:27 @ This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

kjv@Luke:7:28 @ For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

kjv@Luke:7:29 @ And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

kjv@Luke:7:30 @ But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

kjv@Luke:7:31 @ And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?

kjv@Luke:7:32 @ They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

kjv@Luke:7:33 @ For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

kjv@Luke:7:34 @ The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

kjv@Luke:7:35 @ But wisdom is justified of all her children.

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Today's notes:

Context:

• Before - Luke:7:11-17 Jesus Raises a Widow 's Son
  
• After - Luke:7:36-50 Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
  

Study Resources:

dict:torrey Offence+

dict:tcr Works of Christ

Notes:

The certainty that Jesus wanted the Baptist to know of was not just a simple "Yes I am He" or "no there is another", it was "consider all of this", "has anything like this ever been seen", "is there any doubt?". "Is there anyone other but He that could do all this?". Jesus was placing John's certainty in the hands of what his two disciples could testify of as having seen that very hour. In the same sense, our testimony should be of what Jesus did then and continues to do this very hour, "consider all of this". The consideration of all this is balanced against what offence might be taken that Jesus is the undeniable Christ to all of this.

The teaching shifts from what has actually been seen to what did you expect to see previously and how did you respond. It gathers together at the conclusion that the response often is contradictory to the logical deduction because of the offense taken in it. Two events, two separate and opposite standards of judgment; Jesus was good at pointing these inconsistencies out and so we should become regardless of the offence that might be stirred up.

This consideration of the works of Christ being proof of Him being sent is curiously pictured within the frame work of prophecy as it had long been prophesied that the Christ was going to do these very things. Here we have the greatest of prophets asking whether the things that he is seeing in the prophecies are the same as the things that he is seeing in Jesus and Jesus' answer is a resounding "see what all I am doing". It is not a negative thing on John's part to question this on the bases of prophecy because the prophecies are a confusing lot until the many puzzle pieces are put into place. It would however be a negative thing had John become offended by the puzzle complete as presented to him.

Potential believers are often swayed against the supporting evidence by the offense that they perceive others and or themselves taking toward it. Offence is often more persuasive than evidence. Making others aware of this potential offense and potential contradictory response is just as important to belief as the evidence supporting belief and is best accomplished (as shown here by Jesus) side by side to each other.

Key Messages:

Declaring Certainty

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Further Resources:

Comment Board:Luke:7:18-35
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Luke:7:18-35 rwp@Luke:7:18-35 mhcc@Luke:7:18-35
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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