Sermon(Lk 7:24-28): Jesus and his disciples

The original Korean text: https://blog.naver.com/stevision/50025286624

 

>> 24 When the messengers of John had gone, he began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.’ 28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (Lk 7:24-28) <<

 

There are people in the world who are like reeds shaken by the wind. Someone said, "Frailty, thy name is woman!" or "Woman, your name is Reed," or "Woman is as fickle as a reed." Actually there are a lot of women with strong mentality. But frankly speaking, there are many women who are like reeds. Reeds give up themselves to the wind. Reeds represent weakness and passivity. Believers should not be like reeds. If you commit yourself to the stream of the times, adapting yourself to the world and making a compromise with the world, there will be little persecution from outside. But a big and thick tree which does not give in to a typhoon is useful in many ways. A reed can't be used for a pillar of the house of God. My brethren, be pillars of the temple of God! In the Bible, Moses, Elijah, and John the Baptist are pillars of the temple. Moses did not yield to the absolute power of the Pharoah of Egypt. He pulled up the polytheism and idolatry that had been deeply rooted in the hearts of the Israelites who lived in Egypt. Elijah defeated the idolatry of Baal and Asherah, struggling against the absolute power of king Ahab and queen Jezebel. In the Bible today, Jesus said that John the Baptist was not a reed shaken by the wind but a big and strong pillar of the temple of God. John defined the Jewish community at that time as a sinful people waiting for the judgment day. John publicly criticized the king if he did something wrong. He was a man who did not give in to the king's absolute power. Luther is a pillar of Protestantism. His unyielding attitude toward the power of the Pope and the Emperor shows that he was a girderlike warrior of Christianity. A man who is like a pillar of the temple of God is a courageous one who does not kneel down to the power of the world to keep the truth and justice of God. A man who do not tolerate falsehood and lawlessness in excuse of his hard situations is a pillar of the temple. My brethren, be not shaking reeds but pillars of the temple. Pillars of the temple never break, because God keeps and protects them to the end. Though John the Baptist was killed when he criticized the king, his death itself is an eternal victory.

 

Some people in the world set their aim in life at a splendid life. Many people are intoxicated with a sense of great accomplishment in life when they see their good clothes, good houses, good cars. If you come to power, you can live a splendid life. So, those who live in the palace and those who walk in and out of the palace are ones living brilliantly. People in the world envy them. Even believers of God envy them. 'If I were not a Christian, I could do anything to be rich like them!' But my brethren, the problem is that those who are living a splendid life are not so happy themselves as you think. A lot of people are externally brilliant, but their heart is much injured. And the true splendor is not achieved by human endeavor. Does your old wrinkled face get beautiful with makeup? Does your old finger get pretty with an expensive diamond ring? Does your decrepit body, when wrapt in silk, become cute? It is God who clothes someone or something with splendor. Look at the flowers in the field. The splendor and luxury of Solomon, in whose eyes gold is but a common thing, can never be greater than that of a flower on the field. The enchanting color of the petals of flowers is beyond description. Can an old queen decorated with silk, gold and cosmetics compete in beauty with a lively eighteen-year-old girl in shabby clothes? An old man of ignoble faith can never be above an ugly man whatever good worldly things he may decorate himself with. Neither money nor power can make you splendid. Oh! How futile the splendor of the world! The fact that you've helped others, that you've loved God, and the beautiful heart you've kept so far ㅡ these make you splendid even if you're old. Other people ran after the splendor of the world, but John the Baptist followed only God. John abode by only his mission entrusted by God. The splendor of a man of noble faith can never decrease in God, no matter how old he is.

 

John the Baptist was a great prophet. He was greater than other prophets. In most cases, the birth of a prophet was not predicted long ago. But the birth of John was predicted long ago in the Bible. >>This (John the Baptist) is he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.' (Lk 7:27)<< This passage came from Mal 3:1, Old Testament. Many prophets of Old Testament including Isaiah foretold the birth of the Savior. They foretold the birth of the Savior and eagerly wished that the day would come soon. They looked to the day only in faith, but couldn't see it with their own eyes. But John the Baptist was a prophet who met the Savior in person and introduced him to people as Savior. John was born with the office of a messenger of God. God sent him into the world to use him as his precious messenger and prophet. John was faithful to his duty defined by God. He was called to be a great prophet, and actually lived as such. He was the greatest of all born of women because he was called to be a great prophet and actually lived such a life. If he had been called to be a great prophet, but lived as an evil man, he could never have been the greatest man of all born of women. My brethren, your position itself doesn't make you great. A great man is he who is faithful to the duty God has entrusted to him regardless of the outward height of his position.

 

However, the Scripture says of the saints like this. "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Rom 8:29-30)" "..., who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, ... (1 Tim 1:9)" 400 years before he was born, John was predicted to be born to be God's messenger, but we believers of Jesus were known to God even before the creation of the world (Eph 1:4), were born in the world, are called 'God's children', and will be glorified. From these passages, we know that we can be greater than John if we live rightly as God's children.

 

Jesus said something meaningful in the text of the Bible today. "I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. (v. 28)" I think John the Baptist now is living in heaven as a glorious citizen of heaven. But he was but a messenger (a servant) of God when Jesus made that remark. He was a man who introduced Jesus to people as the Savior. If Jesus is a groom, he is a servant who leads the horse that Jesus the groom is riding, calling out, "The groom is going. Get out of the way!" My brethren, who is higher, this servant or the bride of the groom (Rev 19:7)? Who is greater?

 

Jesus is saying that those who believe in Jesus are greater than John the Baptist, no matter how unimportant they are. This fact was noticed neither by other people nor Jesus' disciples at that time. Many still believed that John the Baptist was a greater prophet than Jesus, and even Jesus' disciples thought that John was too great for them to approach him. But Jesus said that members of the kingdom of God, that is, Jesus' disciples, were greater than John. Like this, sometimes people don't know how precious they are.

 

Then, what are the bases of Jesus' saying that the saints of the kingdom of God, that is, those who believe in Jesus as the Savior, are greater than John? First, John was a servant of Jesus while Peter and other disciples of Jesus were the apostles of Jesus. Usually a servant unties his master's shoelaces, however John said he was not worthy to untie the thong of Jesus' sandal (Jn 1:27). An apostle directs and oversees the kingdom of God on earth on behalf of Jesus. John did not raise the dead or heal the sick. However Jesus' apostles were empowered to do even greater works than Jesus did. As you can see in the Bible, the apostles raised up the dead or healed the sick. Second, John was a servant of Jesus, but Jesus' disciples were even exalted to the status of Jesus' friends. "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (Jn 15:13-15)" For Jesus, the disciples were far greater than John, so that Jesus said he would lay down his life for them. Third, John was a servant, but the disciples became Jesus' brothers in God the Father. Jesus is the eldest brother of all believers. The limitation of John the Baptist was that he was, at best, born of a woman. But the disciples, in addition to this, were born of the Holy Spirit to be the members of God's household. The disciples were sealed by the Holy Spirit to be children of God. The disciples came to call God their Father. Fourth, John was a servant, but Jesus' disciples were spiritually Jesus' brides. Those who believe in Jesus as Savior become Jesus' brides. John, while in the world, could never be a spiritual bride of Jesus, for he was the last prophet of the Old Testament. He was a servant of Jesus, who, going ahead of Jesus the bridegroom, made it known to people who Jesus was. Therefore the brides of Jesus are far greater than John. Unlike John the Baptist, the disciples are those who are in a deep spiritual union with Jesus. "I'm in you, and you are in me!" In a word, John was a lowly servant who did not deserve to untie Jesus' shoelaces, but the disciples were so precious that Jesus himself washed their feet. Such was the difference between the status of John the Baptist and that of the apostles of Jesus.

 

The reason why Jesus said these words was that he might encourage his disciples. In fact, the disciples were greater than those in the royal palace or John the Baptist. But the disciples still did not have such pride. My brethren, have faith. You are a people of the kingdom of God. You're God's children. You've believed in Jesus as Savior and received the Holy Spirit. You have spiritual power and authority. Maybe you're least in the church, but you're greater than the great John the Baptist. This faith of yours makes you great. Don't be envious of the splendor of the world, but think of your spiritual status, be satisfied and be proud of yourself. With this pride, be equal to the mission entrusted to you. Even if the mission seems insignificant, don't worry, for we are already great ones in Jesus.

 

May the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus always be with you.

 

Chong Tack Kim

                               - Dongtoma Sunshine Church -