Was Jesus Out Of Touch With Reality?

Then Peter said to Jesus, “Explain to us the parable that says people aren’t defiled by what they eat.” “Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus asked. “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.” [Matthew 15.15-20] 

Are we to conclude here that Jesus was ignorant of biology? In a world gone wild on "eating right" Jesus' words stand in stark contrast. Modern science traces all sorts of things we eat to certain diseases and physical conditions. I mean, it's science, right?

Jesus says however that evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander are what defile us. In fact, what Jesus said coincides perfectly with what Deuteronomy 28.15-68 says about disobedience to God: all manner of sickness results in addition to all manner of loss otherwise.

I know "sincere Christian people" who are consumed with "eating right" - even religious about it. They justify their actions with both science and God's Word:

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. [1 Corinthians 6.19-20]

The thing is, 1 Corinthians 6.19-20 is not at all about "eating right" but instead the context of that entire chapter is about moral purity (read all of 1 Corinthians 6)! 

Man's sickness, weakness, and disease is NOT the result of what he eats. Jesus unapologetically contradicts such a notion (science be damned) saying man's defilement (that is what sickness and disease are referred to in the Bible) is the direct result of evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. In fact, the apostle Paul confirms this in 1 Corinthians 6 (if we actually read the whole chapter).

The only real Biblical warning concerning our diet is not found in what we eat, but in how much we eat. Gluttony is repeatedly prohibited in the Bible.

What if people so bent on "eating right" spent that time instead in repentance and devotion to following Jesus? What if people gave as much effort to Matthew 16.24 as they did their diet?

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

Was Jesus out of touch with reality? I don't think so.

Father, help us see the futility of "eating right." Help us instead see the absolute necessity of giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. So be it.

They Didn't Understand Miracles

Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed,  for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in. [Mark 6.47-52] 

What was it that Mark understood about the miracle of the loaves that the disciples had missed? Most assuredly it was this:

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ [Matthew 13.15]

Because a hard heart is blinded and deafened by something, it cannot enjoy the miracles of God. Like physical healing, walking on water also qualifies as a miracle the same as feeding 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish. The point is, a hard heart gives preference to man's solutions to his problems denying the power of God.

That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered. [Matthew 14.15-17]

The simple solution of the blind and deaf hard-hearted disciples was to, "Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves." They never even considered a miracle from God instead. The hard-heartedness of never even considering God is a violation of the 1st Commandment:

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.2-3]

THINK! How did God bring the Hebrews out of Egypt? WITH UNDENIABLE MIRACLES! In the very context of the 1st Commandment, God demands to be distinguished as His people's ONLY God by powerful miracles. Pharoah did not let God's people go because they posed a significant military threat. Instead, Pharoah let God's people go because He feared their miracle-working God.

The disciples were mindlessly amazed at Jesus walking on the water because their hearts were hard against their miracle-working God. The disciples mindlessly resorted to sending the crowds away to get food because their hearts were hard against their miracle-working God.

Today, God's people mindlessly turn to all manner of man-made solutions for everyday problems because their hearts are hard against their miracle-working God.

Man's "solutions" are idols. Although not an exhaustive list, man's solutions (idols) today are found broadly in his industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology.

Idolatry only sees the problem (wind and waves, hungry people, poverty, vulnerability, sickness, ignorance...). Idolatry is blind and deaf to anything else.

Faith sees the solution (undeniable miracles). Faith believes God exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. Faith sees every possibility in God the Creator.

To preemptively address any misunderstanding going forward, Jesus placed the responsibility of miracles (and everything else He did) on every believer:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

Unironically, man has a solution for John 14.12: it's called religion. Like every other man-made solution to "man's problems," religion is also an idol. So firmly established is the idol of religion that books, teachings, and sermons defending man's undeniable failure to comply with John 14.12 cannot be counted. These same books, teachings, and sermons also make damning allowance for man to establish his own spiritual equilibrium regarding Matthew 16.24:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

Man's problems identify the condition of his heart. What is the first solution that comes to mind when we encounter a problem? Is it a man-made solution (our way)? Or, is it our miracle-working God (the way of the cross)?

This subject is not going away because the the Word of God is not going away. My "voice" might be silenced, but let us not think for a moment that Jesus' words will ever be silenced!

Father, may the truth of Your Word prevail in this day and age when man's solutions (idols) abound and man's hard heart prevents him from enjoying Your miracles. May there be a revival of Your Word - may there be a revival of Your miraculous intervention in the lives of Your true followers. So be it.

What If Jesus Really Meant What He Said?

If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. [Matthew 10.38-39]

What if Jesus really meant what He said? 

This is the proverbial "elephant in the room" no one really wants to talk about. This is where pure undefiled relationship with God takes a u-turn to become false religion. This is where abstraction sets upon what is otherwise clear instruction in God's Word. This is overwhelmingly where the alleged Church finds itself today.

It matters not how many books have been written or how many sermons have been preached to "soften the blow" of Jesus' hard words... Do we dare to interpret the Bible to suit our comfort level? Why would we presume to know more than God? Who would think of such a thing?

"God knows my heart" won't cut it because the fact is, God indeed knows our hearts:

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? [Jeremiah 17.9]

So, if we cannot trust our own heart, who or what can we trust? God's Word: Jesus Christ. Period.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. [John 14.6]

How do we identify deceit in our lives? It's simple: the deceiver of mankind would have us focus on ourselves instead of God. This self-centric disregard for what God said is idolatry - it began in the Garden of Eden. 

If then we cannot focus on deceit, we must focus on the Truth. Jesus spoke that Truth, so, we cannot ignore what He said! Jesus really meant every word He said.

Would it not be even more important to do what Jesus said if He repeated it? That is precisely what Jesus did:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

Yes, Jesus really meant every word He said.

Father, every one of us makes a decision every day to either follow Jesus, or follow our own heart's idolatrous desires... even knowing that our hearts are "ground zero" for all manner of deceit. Help us to get real - help us stop deceiving ourselves and each other. Help us make personal every directive Jesus gave for all who be His followers. May we truly be found giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. So be it.

If Only We Could Touch The Hem Of Jesus' Robe!

Jesus got into the boat again and went back to the other side of the lake, where a large crowd gathered around him on the shore. Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet, pleading fervently with him. “My little daughter is dying,” he said. “Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.” Jesus went with him, and all the people followed, crowding around him. A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. [Mark 5.21-29]

For all of us who have ever wished we could just touch the hem of Jesus' robe...

Let's consider what John said about Jesus:

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. [John 1.14]

And then, let's consider what the writer of Hebrews said about God's Word:

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. [Hebrews 4.12] 

Here then is what we MUST understand from these two passages: 

God's Word and Jesus are synonymous.

With this in mind... Do we then wish to touch the hem of Jesus' robe? We do have this opportunity every minute of every day... We have God's written Word which is synonymous with His Living Word that we might "touch" Him any time we want to! And, it is in this 'want-to' where we find our great disconnect...

In today's One Year Chronological Bible reading we see another important fact about encountering God's Word:

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. [Mark 5.18] 

The formerly demon-possessed man begged to be with Jesus, the Word. The demoniac's want-to had been changed. That attitude is much different than what is demonstrated by most so-called believers today who find it a struggle to 'make time' to read the Bible. Jesus actually spoke to that condition:

Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.” [John 8.47]

The woman who encountered Jesus' touch in Mark 5.21-29 had to finally come to the end of her resources before coming to Jesus. In her case, the woman had realized the futility of medicine abandoning it and turning instead to Jesus. She effectively broke ties with the idol of medicine in order to receive miraculous healing from God. God's Word had no impact on the woman until she turned to Him in earnest - turning only to Jesus, giving up on the idol of medicine, trusting her entire life and well-being to the Word of God. She actually did what Jesus later demanded of all who would be His followers:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

Additionally, there was an obvious and distinct feeling of God's Word actually working. Of the woman it was said, "...and she could feel in her body that she had been healed." And of Jesus it was said, "Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him..." (Mark 5.30). So, without question, both parties involved in this healing "felt" something. This is a far cry from what occurs in most "healing ministries" today where nothing is felt by anyone excusing the lack of anything happening by calling it "faith." Yes, people get all emotional, but emotions and Biblical faith are two entirely different things!

There are two schools of thought when nothing is felt regarding healing: One group insists that miraculous healing is not for today (as in ever) and the other group insists that miraculous healing is not for today (as in at that moment). In indicting contrast to both of these Pharisee-like variations, Jesus never left a miracle undone.

We are left then with the choice to believe what God's Word says, or make up our own experience-based, Pharisee-like conclusions. If we believe God's Word for what it actually says, must desire and intentionally turn to God's Word prioritizing Him above all else, and we must bring no idols to that party! Few, if any today, meet these qualifications. But Pharisee-like religion screams cheap, unaccountable "grace" in demonic, soul-damning disagreement with what God's written and living Word says. And, yes, it is that serious...

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” [Matthew 22.14]

The "call" is indeed undeserved grace. The "chosen" are those who, in unmistakable, undivided faith, follow Jesus, the Living Word of God on His terms:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

We cannot make our own rules. We must touch the hem of Jesus' robe - we MUST touch God's Word and be touched by God's Word in a way that is felt.

Father, may we be found giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. May this experience be felt! So be it.

Not About The Man, But About The Faith

Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”  [Matthew 8.23-27]

Jesus illustrated a very bold fact here: 

It's not about the man, but about the faith.

However, the disciples did not get it. Instead, they were amazed, "Who is this man?"

People today still look at Jesus the same way. Even though He constantly referred to Himself as the Son of Man, they still ogled over Him as the Son of God. They missed the point. They were looking at the tree and not the forest represented by the tree. They failed to understand that they were also trees belonging to that same forest.

Any one of the disciples could have spoken to the wind and waves bringing about calm and peace. But instead, they were afraid. Jesus only did what any one of them could have done. Otherwise, His scolding of them, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” was completely unjustified.

If we can see it, the disciples trusted the man-made boat more than God. As sturdy as the boat built by man may have been, it was no match for the wind and waves over which God's Kingdom rules.

While, at first this illustration may seem to justify man's idols of finance, insurance, medicine and technology as "the boat," a more complete look at Jesus' life and ministry in another boating incident reveals otherwise:

Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. [Matthew 14.24-33]

Leave it to Peter to "test the waters," Peter whose faith became foundational to the Church! Why did Peter want out of the boat? Was the boat not sufficient? Was the boat certainly not better than nothing? Peter did not think so! So, he asked Jesus if he might come to Him. And, what did Jesus say? "Yes, come." For at least a moment, Peter understood that "if Jesus does it, I can do it." And, Peter concluded further that he should do what Jesus was doing intentionally leaving the boat.

And here is where we are today. We are experiencing the strong winds of life in our man-made idol-industry "boats" of finance, insurance, medicine and technology. God's Word is revealing Jesus to us on every page of the Bible. But instead of desiring to get out of the boat to follow Jesus, we insist that Jesus should get in the boat with us where it's 'safe.'

I suppose Jesus 'met the disciples where they were' when He got back into the boat with Peter. The disciples only witnessed Him again as the Son of God, but only Peter, and only for a moment, witnessed Jesus as the Son of Man when he (Peter) got out of the boat in faith as a man and walked on the water too.

Were the wind and waves real? Of course they were. But Jesus did not need the boat to deal with them.

So, again, why did Peter want out of the boat? Because he just wanted to be where Jesus was doing what Jesus did. He wanted to follow Jesus. The 'security' of the boat, for at least a moment, lost all meaning. Peter took "following Jesus" literally (until he didn't).

The question prevails then, "Do we want to follow Jesus?" Or, do we want instead to just stay in the boat? Getting out of the boat is Kingdom faith. Staying in the boat is ...well, idolatry (trusting something instead of, or in addition to, God).

It should be understood that Peter did not want out of the boat to prove a point as a man in human pride. Peter wanted out of the boat to follow Jesus as a man in Christ-like faith.

There is a scripture that speaks directly to this end:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

Imagine that!

Father, I want to follow Jesus. I don't want to sit in the boat any more. May I be found more like Peter, reckless as he was, than those who stayed in the boat never understanding that everything Jesus did as the Son of Man, we are called and empowered to do in faith. May I genuinely give up my own way, take up my cross, and follow Jesus. So be it.

Blasphemy Against The Holy Spirit

“So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. [Matthew 12.31]

This verse scares a lot of people ...as it should.

I and many others have wondered what this verse really means. I believe I am finally beginning to understand exactly what Jesus was talking about and, even though it still scares me, I would like to share it here...

Context is everything in understanding what Matthew 12.31 means. Jesus gave this response in the context of just having been accused of casting out Satan by the power of Satan.

First we must understand that the Holy Spirit is the power of God. Jesus did not deny the strength of Satan's deception, but very much recognized the power of the Holy Spirit as stronger:

For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house. [Matthew 12.29]

Notice that Jesus was not speaking of Himself as being stronger. This must be understood. "Someone even stronger" is the Holy Spirit. All of God's power is manifest in the Holy Spirit. All of God's power is the Holy Spirit.

With this established, we can refer to the 3rd Commandment:

“You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.7]

Even though Jesus is Immanuel (God with us) in the flesh, it must be remembered that, in order to effectively accomplish redemption for mankind (John 3.16), He had to become a little lower than the angels (Hebrews 2.9). In this position, it was actually necessary that man could speak against Him. But, not so with the Holy Spirit (and likewise not so with God the Father).

Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come. [Matthew 12.32]

When Jesus cast out evil spirits, He did so by the power of the Holy Spirit - a privilege afforded every believer in the Name of God (John 14.12). Jesus even pointed out that the Pharisees had indeed operated in this same legitimate power. It was not their own power, but the power of God - the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit was never made a little lower than the angels, it is an unforgivable affront to the Name of God Himself to speak falsely against the Holy Spirit.

It should be recognized then that confusing God's power, His good Name, with evil is what the 3rd Commandment is all about. So we are all good, right? Not so fast...

In today's One Year Chronological Bible reading, we also find Jesus speaking of identifying a tree by its fruit - in the very same context of Matthew 12.31!

“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. [Matthew 12.33]

Do we dare associate the Holy Spirit with self-centric life? Do we dare associate the Holy Spirit with homosexuality? Do we dare associate the Holy Spirit with transgenderism? Do we dare associate the Holy Spirit with God-less living?

Do we? 

Before saying "absolutely not!" consider the following: God's people alarmingly declare man's industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology to be "gifts from God" - inspired by the power of the Holy Spirit to meet the needs of man without paying attention to the advertisements of these industries depicting as normal all manner of lifestyles forbidden by God's Word? A tree is identified by its fruit (Jesus' words, not mine)!

It is misuse of (blasphemy against) the Name of God - the power of God - the Holy Spirit to declare God-less industries as "gifts from God."

God placed the 3rd Commandment about misuse of His Name immediately following the 2nd Commandment about idolatry for good reason: because it would forever be man's tendency to justify his idolatry by calling it the work of God. 

Matthew 12.31 should indeed scare the idolatrous hell out of God's people. The fear of God should constrain His people to reject any and all association with bad-fruit-bearing idol industries of man's making. Refer to Commandment #1:

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.2-3]

The conclusions drawn here are not resultant to the Word-less and prayerless life of those who show up at church every weekend destitute of God's Word and prayer in their preceding week. As I have intentionally read the Bible, responded to what I have read (in writing), and prayed with regularity, my eyes see and my ears hear differently. My life is proof-positive that God's Word and prayer changes the way I see God's Word and prayer! I do not say this in pride (as I am far from where I need to be), but in persuasion (that this direction is real) - we all need God's Word and prayer in our lives if we are ever to distinguish what is the power of the Holy Spirit and what instead is idolatry - Matthew 12.31 gives sufficient reason to do so!

Idol industries are the way of man - not of God. Their "power" is not the Holy Spirit, but instead  deceptive self-sufficiency. Jesus was clear about the way of man:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

When the Bible is read "as a whole," Matthew 16.24 best sums up the entire story.

Father, I ask that every reader of this article see for themselves what Your Word has been saying all along. May this article point people to Your Word. May we all be found giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. So be it.

Matthew 11 Is Amazing!

John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’ [Matthew 11.10] 

Matthew 11 is amazing!

Regardless what may be said otherwise, there is simply no way to fully comprehend the life and ministry of Jesus Christ without first understanding the life and ministry of John the Baptist.

In the context of Matthew 11, Jesus provided great insight:

For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time. [Matthew 11.13]

The prophets and the law of Moses went hand in hand. The law revealed man's sin, and the prophets called for repentance of that sin. This is precisely what John the Baptist re-emphasized in preparation for Jesus. However, instead of following through with prescribed sacrifices, John baptized people. John's baptism was a baptism of repentance.

Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” [Acts 19.4]

Repentance is the preparation for Jesus. It might also be accurately concluded that if Jesus then is not "seen" then repentance has not taken place, giving paramount importance to repentance.

What sin is being talked about here?

The prophets and the law of Moses dealt directly with man's sin problem. Specifically, and as might be expected by the arrangement of the law of Moses, the sin problem of man can be understood as idolatry. The first three Commandments are the first three Commandments for a very good reason! John the Baptist's baptism of repentance dealt primarily with man's violation of the first three Commandments.

John's message and baptism of repentance for violation of the first three Commandments (regarding idolatry) was the perfect segue into (preparation for) a new understanding of the 4th Commandment about the Sabbath - about the rest God wrote into the Ten Commandments long before anyone really understood why. John's call to repentance prepared the way to embrace the rest found in Jesus Christ, The Sabbath Rest. Matthew 11 also includes this important information from Jesus, the Sabbath Rest:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” [Matthew 11.28-30]

If however, people failed to repent for the Godward sin of idolatry, then they would fail to comprehend Jesus as the Sabbath Rest, and then they would have no basis to understand the remaining six manward Commandments.

While, for years, I have felt that John the Baptist was having a weak and doubtful moment in prison, I now see instead that John was actually brilliantly doing his job of "preparing the way" for Jesus when he sent his disciples to Him with a question that would intentionally unveil amazing truth.

John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” [Matthew 11.2-3]

I now don't think that John was having doubts. Instead, John crafted the perfect question for his disciples to ask Jesus so that they might understand for themselves what and who John had indeed been "preparing the way" for in calling for the baptism of repentance. And what did John lead them to learn?

Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” [Matthew 11.4-5]

Jesus sent John's disciples right back to John with powerful confirmation of John's accomplished task of "preparing the way." Repentance for idolatry had been re-established and miracles were the result. What a leaning moment for John's disciples! And what a confirmation for John in what would be his final days!

Religion and religious people refuse to acknowledge this. In Luke's account of the same Matthew 11 discussion about John the Baptist, we find this damning statement:

But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God’s plan for them, for they had refused John’s baptism. [Luke 7.30]

Later, Jesus would reveal the consequences for those who rejected both John's baptism of repentance and Jesus' message of the Good News: miracles as the result of repentance.

This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not  understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ [Matthew 13.14-15]

Religion and religious people always have and always will reject the notion that they are idolatrous, and therefore need to repent, so that when they do, they will enjoy God's miraculous power. Stiff necked, unrepentant people, like the religious ones who opposed Jesus, must have religion to excuse their powerless existence. They simply cannot accept the the truth of Jesus Christ plainly recorded in the Gospels - but must instead "explain away" most everything Jesus said.

And yet, Jesus' demand in Matthew 16.24 reveals the idolatry that must be given up and the cross that must be taken up in order to follow Him:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

Repentance for sin is much deeper than being sorry for stealing a cookie. Every sin of man is traceable back to idolatry - starting with the idolatry to "self" - placing our own will over the will of God (the original sin in the Garden of Eden). 

Until we understand John's message of repentance (in perfect harmony with the prophets and the law of Moses), we can never understand Jesus or enjoy the power of God.

Father, I feel like I have stumbled through these thoughts here in amazement but also in accuracy. May I constantly see the depth of Jesus' call to give up my own way (turn away from idolatry - repent), take up my cross (the power of God, 1 Corinthians 1.18), and follow Him. So be it!