BY OLUROTIMI AJIBOWO
And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent
two of his disciples and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we
look for another?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John
the things which you hear and see: The
blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the
dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because
of Me."
As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John:
"What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the
wind? But what did you go out to see? A
man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in
kings' houses. But what did you go out
to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written:
"Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way
before You.'
"Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not
risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of
heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the
kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied
until John. And if you are willing to
receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Matt 11:2-15 NKJV
Christianity, as most of us have known it, has been defined
by form, habits and denominational doctrines. It conforms to a form in that we
are all like one another in our lukewarmness, settling down in our pews, Sunday
after Sunday, unruffled and ruffling nothing. This pattern has become our
habit, there is hardly anything that distinguishes us from any unbeliever than
the fact that we call the name of Jesus and possibly speak in tongues. The last
distinction is that we profess and believe only what our denomination teaches
in the conviction that the man we see as the head, with all the trappings and
surrounding paraphernalia of his office, appears called of God and is on the
right path.
Our opening text appears like the recording of a casual
incident that happened between John the Baptist and Jesus and many of us are
familiar with the story. John was in prison, unsure whether he was going to die
or not and earnestly wanted confirmation from Jesus about whether He was the
Messiah.
The gospel accounts reveal that John the Baptist was the one
who baptised Jesus in the Jordan and heard the words of confirmation when God said
"This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17; Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22). Why
would John therefore be asking such a question? The simple answer is that the
thinking of all the Jews at the time was that the promised Messiah would come
in the mould of the deliverers Israel was already used to - people like Gideon,
Jephtah, Samson, Elijah, and so on - and deliver them from the Roman occupation
and oppression over them.
They were confused because the miracles attested to the fact
that Jesus was from God; they were however surprised that Jesus did not
manifest in the way of previous deliverers. The multitudes were ever-ready, as
if waiting for His command to lead them to battle but here was Jesus, content
to merely move from place to place, yet talking about a kingdom that, as far as
they were concerned, He was not actualising. It is hardly doubtful whether the
reply that Jesus sent back to John would have been the full assurance and
consolation he sought.
When Jesus sent back the disciples of John, as we saw in the
text, Jesus used the opportunity to speak about John. Many of us are familiar
with the comments of Jesus about John but it is doubtful whether the deeper
implications of what Jesus said about him has really impacted us. If we are
disciples of Jesus, there is a lot to learn in the comments of Jesus about
John. Let us begin by asking the question,
"Who was John the Baptist?"
John the Baptist was born to Zechariah, the high priest and
Elizabeth, the cousin of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Apart from the
circumstances of his birth, we do not hear about him again until he started
baptising in the Jordan.
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of
Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice
of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths
straight.'"
Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt
around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all
Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized
by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. Matt 3:1-6 NKJV
All these would merely have passed as some historical
recording but for what Jesus said about John in relation to those Jesus
described as "the least in the kingdom of God" being greater than
John.
"Assuredly, I say to you,
among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the
Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Matt. 11:11 NKJV
What did Jesus mean by this statement? Ordinarily speaking,
it appeared as if Jesus was just speaking about the privilege of being in the
kingdom of God. Was this really all that Jesus was talking about? A careful
analysis reveals that Jesus had much more than that in mind but we may not
understand it without a good insight into what John did and placing a correct
interpretation on the comments of Jesus about him. If, as Jesus said, the least
in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist, could it also not mean
that the expectation of God concerning whoever may be considered the least in
the kingdom of God is far above whatever John the Baptist achieved? If our
hearts are agreed that this could be a possible interpretation of the words of
Jesus on John, what we then ought to do is understand what John did in proper
perspective. Let us begin with major aspects of his personality as recorded by
Matthew:
Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt
around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Matt 3:4 NKJV
John announced himself to Israel as an unusual personality.
He was clothed in camel's hair with a leather belt and ate only locusts and
wild honey. He epitomised the saying of Jesus when He later described those in
the kingdom of God as people who are in the world but are not of the world.
(John 17:16)
Jesus commended the boldness, resoluteness and unflinching
commitment of John to his cause.
As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John:
"What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the
wind? But what did you go out to see? A
man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in
kings' houses. But what did you go out
to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. Matt 11:7-9 NKJV
Jesus was saying that John was not like a reed that bends
and turns with the blowing of the wind. He was not a man who had a
preoccupation with seeking comfort which many of us have taken as a vocation as
Christians in the erroneous belief that Jesus died so that we can acquire the
best pleasures of life.
The greatest contribution of John was the establishment of
benchmarks for repentance without caring whose ox was gored, as we see in the
gospel accounts of Matthew and Luke:
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his
baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from
the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think
to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that
God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the
ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear
good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matt 3:7-11 NKJV
At the time of John the Baptist, the entire Jewish race had
become familiar with the requirements of the Law as prescribed in the Old
Testament. Apart from the Levites who were supposed to be the priests
conducting the service of the temple, the Pharisees and Sadducees had emerged
as the lawyers and interpreters of the Law. This social standing made them
revered and dreaded at the same time as they endeavoured to implement the
provisions of the Law, not really because they loved God, but in order to be able
to arrest and punish those in contravention, as we saw them do many times as
they reported people to Jesus.
When John began his teachings, the first set of people he
lashed out against were the Pharisees and Sadducees who were considered
untouchable. It was like confronting the entire religious hierarchy of his time
and he didn't mince words. That was enough to earn the fury of the
establishment. However, John didn't stop there; he began to give people direct
prescriptions which was to be their personal moral code without quoting or
referring to the Law of Moses.
So the people asked him, saying,"What shall we do then?" He
answered and said to them,"He who has two tunics, let him give to him who
has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."
Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him,
"Teacher, what shall we do?" And he said to them,"Collect no
more than what is appointed for you."
Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we
do?" So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely,
and be content with your wages." Luke 3:18-20 NKJV
As people came to him, his prescription was a fundamental
teaching on love based on sharing what one had and fairness to others; such
prescriptions as had not been heard before, yet it pleased the heart of God the
Father. The Scripture records that tax collectors also came to him and he told
them boldly not to collect dues beyond what was appointed. Surprisingly,
soldiers came to him and to this category, he also revealed their excesses and
charged them not to intimidate others nor accuse people falsely but encouraged
them to be content with their wages.
The summary of John's teaching was that he told each
category of persons what they needed to hear in order to please God, not what
they wanted to hear. At the end, it was not just the religious establishment
that he took on but the entire nation. And so it was that as he baptised in the
Jordan, the entire nation came to him.
Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went
out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. Matt 3:5-6 NKJV
Much later, after the death and resurrection of Jesus, when
Peter and Paul went on missionary assignments at different times, it was the
baptism of John that they found that the Jews in the foreign communities they
went to had subscribed to. Thus, it can be said to be a message that caught on
among the Jews locally and abroad.
Finally, he started the process of personal repentance and
turning towards God. This was what God had wanted to achieve with the
Israelites in all their years of backsliding and worshipping other gods. One
man dared to be different and a whole nation listened and followed.
It must be said that his characteristic boldness led to his
death. In what way? He rebuked the conduct of the tetrarch, the Roman governor
over Israel.
And with many other exhortations he preached to the people. But Herod
the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's
wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, also added this, above all,
that he shut John up in prison. Luke
3:18-20 NKJV
It was from prison that he was killed when the daughter of
Herodias, prompted by her mother, asked for the head of John the Baptist.
For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison
for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. Because John had said to
him,"It is not lawful for you to have her." And although he wanted to
put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a
prophet.
But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias
danced before them and pleased Herod. Therefore he promised with an oath to
give her whatever she might ask. So she, having been prompted by her mother,
said, "Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter."
And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because
of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. So he sent and had John beheaded in prison.
And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it
to her mother. Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it,
and went and told Jesus. Matt
14:3-12 NKJV
That he died holding on in the conviction of the message God
had given him is significant in the face of lily-livered Christianity that has
become the bane of our times; also significant is the epitaph of God upon his
life, summarised by Jesus:
“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen
one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven
is greater than he. Matt. 11:11
NKJV
If the comments of Jesus about John really imply that the
expectation of God concerning the least in the kingdom of God is higher than
the attainments of John the Baptist, it must be a sobering prospect. At the
same time, his life and the comments of Jesus, offer useful lessons that ought
to influence the focus of our Christian lives. What are these?
Firstly, that John established benchmarks for repentance
suggests that we cannot be said to have repented without a turnaround. We must
forsake the usual simple, everyday sins that we may be involved in which are
contrary to God's will and law. John outlined some of them to his audiences and
told each class of persons concerned what to do. He did not merely stop at
telling them to come to God, people were not baptised until they agreed to the
terms of the baptism.
How has the Church been preaching repentance to people when
we ask them to repent and be born again? Do we not gloss over or ignore the
things that they should repent of as long as they are willing to be members of
our congregations? Do we then wonder why there is little or no change in the
life of Christians before and after conversion?
Secondly, John symbolised God's requirement of us to be a
different breed: people who are in the world but are not of the world. John's
lifestyle is an indictment of the worldly standards we are drawn to, the
comforts and approvals that we seek. If we must be God's, we must be ready to
operate on His own terms.
Thirdly, John demonstrated the required boldness expected of
anyone who knows that he is sent of God. What are we, or the Church confronting
today? Where are our voices in the face of injustice and oppression? What are
we saying in the things we see wrong in our denominations? What is our attitude
to the exaltation of men in the place of God? Do we not work our way to be in
favour and the good books rather than challenge matters contrary to God's
precepts? Have we not been cowed into submission that we are not allowed to
judge the actions of those who are placed in authority over us, even by the
word of God, whatever they do?
We may be uncomfortable with the goings-on in our
denominations - all the money collection, pledges and merchandising but are we
speaking? The majority in the congregation are poor without anyone caring about
them; widows and orphans are sent away with "God bless you" prayers.
What about the entertainment and the programmes ruthlessly designed that people
do not have time for themselves and their families while the number one motive
is that people will not have time to go to other congregations? If we preach
the wholesome word of God, would we need so many services every week?
What standards do we line up behind in the governance of our
nations? Do we have applause for values and condemnation for atrocities or we
are totally nonchalant?
Finally, John the Baptist had a commitment to his message,
he was prepared to die for it. For this reason, he did not care whose ox was
gored. How much of a contrast he is to our time when conventional wisdom has
become towing the path of least resistance! Our consciences are seared, our
lips are sealed, our eyes are closed even when massive injustice has been done
in senseless and merciless killings of those who we know to be Christians like
us!
If through John the Baptist, Jesus set minimum benchmarks
for those in the kingdom of God, it should set us thinking deeply and rising to
the challenge of our calling. At the same time, if these are minimum benchmarks
and we are looking for confirmation, do we see evidences of these prescriptions
in the lives of the apostles? Time and space will not allow too many references
but a few should suffice:
When Peter preached his message at Pentecost, it was like a
face-off:
"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man
attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through
Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know — Him, being delivered by the determined
purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have
crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of
death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has
made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter
and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to
all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying,
"Be saved from this perverse generation." Then those who gladly
received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were
added to them. Acts 2:22-25,
36-41 NKJV
What of Stephen's testimony before the Sanhedrin?
"You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always
resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets
did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming
of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who
have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it."
When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they
gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed
into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of
God, and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing
at the right hand of God!"
Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at
him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. Acts 7:51-58 NKJV
What of Paul? As he left Ephesus, he told the people:
And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the
first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all
seasons, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and
temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept
back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught
you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also
to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing
the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in
every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these
things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might
finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord
Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that
ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face
no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood
of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Acts 20:18-27 KJV
Like Peter, Paul and the other apostles, we see James'
bluntness in his general letter to the Church:
My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord
of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man
with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in
filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and
say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man,
"You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool," have you
not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world
to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who
love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and
drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you
are called?
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture,
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; but if you
show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty
of all. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said,
"Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do
murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those
who will be judged by the law of liberty. James 2:1-12 NKJV
We also get a feel of the kind of apostle Jude was by the
tenor of his letter to the Church when he wrote:
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old
ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into
lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how
that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward
destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first
estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains
under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha,
and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to
fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example,
suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers
defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Jude 4-8 KJV
Thus, we see that those who began the Christian walk after
Jesus were not lilly-livered; in the firm conviction of Who they believed and
an understanding of what pleases Him, they launched out, not caring or fearing
for their lives and many of them paid the supreme sacrifice for their
convictions. If we would be true disciples indeed in our time, we ought to
borrow a leaf from their examples of courage and boldness. Paul says:
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who
loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor
principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height
nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the
love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 8:37-39 NKJV
We are more than conquerors through Christ. We can turn the
tide around in our denominations, communities and our nations. May the Lord
infuse us with grace to do so in the precious name of Jesus.
Culled from the book “Christians, ARISE!”, by Olurotimi Ajibowo.
Published by Ecclesia Media International. (234) 909 336 8868.
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