What Jesus Did : Matthew 11:10-11 - Blessed to be Here Now
by Phil Ware
Blessed to be Here Now - Matthew 11:10-11
"This Scripture was written about John: 'Listen! I (God) will send my helper ahead of you. He will prepare the way for you.' I tell you the truth: John the Baptizer is greater than any man that has ever lived. But even the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John." (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
John the Baptist was the key bridge from the Old Testament age to the Kingdom of Heaven. He stood with the prophets, but he was more than a prophet; he was the one prophesied to bring in the age of the Messiah and his Kingdom. He broke the long silence—of God's speaking to his people through the prophets—but the focus of his communication was not himself but the coming One. He called people to repentance, but to prepare them for what was coming. We are blessed to live in the time of the Kingdom. While some enjoy the luxuries and privileges of living in a time of relative prosperity and luxury, the physical luxuries dim in comparison to the glorious blessing of living in the Kingdom of Heaven while waiting for it to dawn in all of its fullness. John was great because he bridged the gap. But we are more blessed to live on this side of the bridge.
Today's Prayer
Thank you Father, for having me live in a time such as this. I want to serve you with passion and vigor for allowing me to share in the promise of your coming Kingdom by being born into your Kingdom by spiritual rebirth. I recognize that every blessing and everything remarkable and wonderful in my life have come from you. Thank you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
Jesus finished telling these things to his twelve followers. Then Jesus left there and went to the towns in Galilee to teach the people and tell them {about God}. John the Baptizer was in prison. He heard about the things Christ was doing. So John sent some of his followers to Jesus. John's followers asked Jesus, "Are you the man that {John said} was coming, or should we wait for another man?" Jesus answered, "Go back to John and tell him about the things that you hear and see: Blind people are able to see again; crippled people are able to walk again; people that have leprosy are healed; deaf people can hear again; dead people are raised from death; and the Good News is told to the poor people. The person that can accept me is blessed." While John's followers were leaving, Jesus began talking to the people about John. Jesus said, "What did you people go out to the desert to see? A weed blown by the wind? No! Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No! Those people that wear fine clothes live in king's palaces. So what did you go out to see? A prophet ? Yes, and I tell you, John is more than a prophet. This Scripture was written about John: 'Listen! I (God) will send my helper ahead of you. He will prepare the way for you.' I tell you the truth: John the Baptizer is greater than any man that has ever lived. But even the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. Since the time John the Baptizer came until now, the kingdom of heaven has been going forward strongly. People using force have been trying to get the kingdom. All the prophets and the law {of Moses} spoke until the time John came. They told about the things that would happen. And if you will believe the things the law and the prophets said, then you will believe that John is Elijah. The law and the prophets said he would come. You people that hear me, listen! "What can I say about the people that live today? What are they like? The people today are likechildren sitting in the market place. One group of children calls to the other group, 'We played flute music for you, but you did not dance; we sang a sad song, but you were not sad.' {Why do I say people are like that?} Because John came, and he did not eat {like other people} or drink wine. And people say, 'He has a demon inside him.' The Son of Man came eating {like other people} and drinking wine, and people say, 'Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much wine. He is a friend of tax collectors and other bad people.' But wisdom is shown to be right by the things it does."-- Matthew 11:1-19 (ERV)
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