Sunday, April 02, 2006
A Reed in the Wind?
Matt. 11:7a. And as these were going away, Jesus began to speak to the multitudes about John,
Luke 7:24a. And when the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the multitudes about John,
After addressing John’s messengers and sending them on their way to report back to him, Jesus tender rebuke of John has grasped the multitudes attention. Herein is a clash of monumental observation; John and Jesus at odds with one another? Jesus now turns His attention toward the multitudes and begins to speak to them about John.
Matt 11:7b. "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?
Luke 7:24b. "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?
We saw Jesus tenderly rebuke John for his doubt but Jesus is not so tender as he admonishes the multitudes who would elevate themselves over John and would readily agree that shame was due John for his doubt. Jesus now sets the story straight about John’s integrity.
In an air of sarcasm Jesus says, “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?” At the beginning of public ministry we are told, Mark 1:5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. It would be a day’s journey from Jerusalem to get where John was ministering. Jesus is speaking in Galilee which is even longer in distance.
Reeds were common vegetation around the Jordan River and would be natural to the landscape. If John was not there the reeds would be. Jesus point is that people do not intentionally venture to the Jordan River on long escapades to see a reed shaken by the wind.
Luke 7:24a. And when the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the multitudes about John,
After addressing John’s messengers and sending them on their way to report back to him, Jesus tender rebuke of John has grasped the multitudes attention. Herein is a clash of monumental observation; John and Jesus at odds with one another? Jesus now turns His attention toward the multitudes and begins to speak to them about John.
Matt 11:7b. "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?
Luke 7:24b. "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?
We saw Jesus tenderly rebuke John for his doubt but Jesus is not so tender as he admonishes the multitudes who would elevate themselves over John and would readily agree that shame was due John for his doubt. Jesus now sets the story straight about John’s integrity.
In an air of sarcasm Jesus says, “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?” At the beginning of public ministry we are told, Mark 1:5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. It would be a day’s journey from Jerusalem to get where John was ministering. Jesus is speaking in Galilee which is even longer in distance.
Reeds were common vegetation around the Jordan River and would be natural to the landscape. If John was not there the reeds would be. Jesus point is that people do not intentionally venture to the Jordan River on long escapades to see a reed shaken by the wind.
# posted by Castusfumus : 2:29 PM
