Jesus and John
John came to prepare the way for the Christ. His mission was to prepare people to understand their need to be washed of their sins and become a new creation. This is why John was known as the Baptizer. His object lesson of the spiritual renewal that Jesus would bring was central to his delivery.
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Matthew 3:11-2
John lived a life of austerity. He wasn’t known for lavish parties or friendly conversation. Just a few verses before this one he was calling people brood of vipers and here he is warning of the unquenchable fires of judgement. He was a very serious person with a very serious message from God.
So his hearers could be forgiven if they expected Jesus, the one with the winnowing fork in his hand, to be a terrible person to meet. Definitely important and worthy of their respect, but not the life of the party.
However, when Jesus came to deal with sinners he would often attend meals with them. He was patient and gracious with the worst sinners seeking redemption. He didn’t tell them they were a lost cause or too unworthy of salvation. Instead, he said salvation was specifically for those who had the most from which to be saved.
And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mark 2:17
Two Extremes
On one hand, then, the people had received the dire message of their need to repent of sins from John. On the other, they had Jesus offering a new life of freedom from their sins that was possible for anyone who desired it, regardless of how sinful their lifestyle had been.
One lived out in the wilderness while the other would even accepting invitations to stay with tax collectors. They both brought the same message of the kingdom but, in delivery, had very different styles.
You would think that together they could have reached people no matter where they were. Further, can you imagine the relief after having your soul burdened with the need of salvation from John and then meeting Jesus? All the weight of that sin and along comes the savior offering to take that weight upon himself and carry your burden for you?!
Never Good Enough
Yet they were largely rejected! Jesus compared their generation to ungrateful children.
“To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,
Luke 7:31-32
“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’
If you were mourning, you should have been dancing. If you were joyous, you should have been weeping. The severe life and message of John was too humdrum. The exciting message and celebration of Jesus was too carefree.
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, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”
Luke 7:33-35
A believer must come to terms with both the seriousness of the problem of sin and the joyousness of the gift of salvation. Neither of these things are acceptable to those who are perishing. There will be accusations of judgmentalism on one side and naivete on the other which are not at all grounded in reality, often from the same people.
There is no reason to be deterred by these false witnesses. Just because we are accused of being too serious about sins doesn’t mean we’re doing anything wrong. Often, we’re just getting the John the Baptist treatment. When we’re walking the straight path of trusting God, we will often be accused of being too simple. It can seem too easy for someone walking a crooked path with no light.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:6
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105
When we’re told we’re not taking the things of this life seriously enough, we’re just getting the Jesus treatment.
To the world, freedom means being a slave to sin with reckless abandon. Giving yourself over to your sins without a thought while worrying endlessly about the things of this world. The gospel offers the exact opposite. It recognizes that the weight of this world comes from sin and freedom is found in redemption through Christ.
Our generation has the same problem as all of those generations ago. People are looking for a message offering an easy life of sin, when freedom comes only from serving God instead. Living in that freedom will be attacked from every side.
When the world calls you too severe and too carefree, you’re probably right where you’re supposed to be.
