More Than a Prophet : Luke 7:24-26 : What Jesus Did! : HEARTLIGHT®

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More Than a Prophet - Luke 7:24-26

When John's followers left, Jesus began to tell the people about John: "What did you people go out into the desert to see? A weed blown by the wind? What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No. Those people that have fine, nice clothes live in kings' houses. Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, and I tell you, John is more than a prophet. (ERV) Full Text

Key Thought

John the Baptist had changed everything! The voice of God in the prophets had been silent for hundreds of years. When John bursts onto the scene, they heard the human voice of John; but underneath that voice, they felt the power and presence of God. John came and was a prophet who pointed others to Jesus. But, John was much more than a prophet; he was a trailblazer. He made the way ready for the Messiah and opened the hearts of the people to the Savior who was the Lamb of God. He spoke with integrity and lived with the singular focus of preparing the way for God's Messiah. He was known by his godly character, his passionate preaching of God's message, and his unquenchable passion to make people ready for the Messiah. He was Jesus' cousin, forerunner, and servant. Yes, John was much more than a prophet!

Today's Prayer

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O God Almighty, the great God who keeps his promises and is faithful to his people, thank you for sending John. I appreciate his example of service to Jesus. I am convicted by the integrity and clarity of his message regardless of his audience. Help me to be more like John in my service to your King, Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

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Today's Verses in Context

John's followers told John about all these things. John called for two of his followers. John sent them to the Lord (Jesus) to ask, "Are you the One that is coming, or should we wait for another person?" So the men came to Jesus. They said, "John the Baptizer sent us to you with this question: 'Are you the One that is coming, or should we wait for another person?'" At that time, Jesus healed many people of their sicknesses, diseases, and evil spirits {from the devil}. Jesus healed many blind people so that they could see again. Then Jesus said to John's followers, "Go tell John the things that you saw and heard here. Blind people are healed and can see. Crippled people are healed and can walk. People with leprosy are healed. Deaf people are healed and can hear. Dead people are given life. And the Good News {about God's kingdom} is given to the poor people. What great blessings there are for the person that can accept me!" When John's followers left, Jesus began to tell the people about John: "What did you people go out into the desert to see? A weed blown by the wind? What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No. Those people that have fine, nice clothes live in kings' houses. Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, and I tell you, John is more than a prophet. This was written about John: 'Listen! I (God) will send my helper ahead of you. He will prepare the way for you.' I tell you, John is greater than any man ever born. But even the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than John." (When the people heard this, they all agreed that God's teaching was good. Even the tax collectors agreed. These were the people that were baptized by John. But the Pharisees and teachers of the law refused to accept God's plan for themselves; they did not let John baptize them.) "What shall I say about the people of this time? What can I compare them to? What are they like? The people of this time are like children sitting in the marketplace. One group of children calls to the other children and says, 'We played flute music for you, but you did not dance; we sang a sad song, but you did not cry.' John the Baptizer came and did not eat {like other people} or drink wine. And you say, 'He has a demon inside him.' The Son of Man came eating {like other people} and drinking wine. And you say, 'Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much wine! He is a friend of the tax collectors and other bad people!' But wisdom is shown to be right by the things it does."

— Luke 7:18-35 (ERV)

Comments on "More Than a Prophet":

The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent some priests and Levites to John. The Jews sent them to ask, "Who are you?" John spoke freely. John did not refuse to answer. John said clearly, "I am not the Christ. " That is what John told people. The Jews asked John, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah ?" John answered, "No, I am not Elijah." The Jews asked, "Are you the Prophet ?" John answered, "No, I am not the Prophet." Then the Jews said, "Who are you? Tell us about yourself. Give us an answer to tell the people who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" John told them the words of the prophet Isaiah: "I am the voice of a person shouting in the desert: 'Make a straight road ready for the Lord.'" These Jews were sent from the Pharisees. These men said to John: "You say you are not the Christ. You say you are not Elijah or the Prophet. Then why do you baptize people?" John answered, "I baptize people with water. But there is a person here with you that you don't know. That person is the One who comes after me. I am not good enough to untie the strings on his shoes." These things all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River. This is where John was baptizing people. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, "Look, the Lamb of God. He takes away the sins of the world!
John 1:19-29 (ERV)

John answered, "A man can get only what God gives him. You yourselves heard me say, 'I am not the Christ. I am only the one that God sent to prepare the way for him.' The bride always belongs to the bridegroom. The friend that helps the bridegroom just waits and listens. He's happy just to hear the bridegroom talk. That's how I feel now. I'm so happy that he (Jesus) is here. He must become more and more important. And I must become less important.
John 3:27-30 (ERV)

John himself will go first before the Lord. John will be powerful like Elijah. He will have the same spirit Elijah had. He will make peace between fathers and their children. Many people are not obeying God. John will bring those people back to the right way that people should think. He will make people ready for the {coming of} the Lord."
Luke 1:17 (ERV)

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