What did you go to see?
Menu reads, grasshopers. Desert food. Bear Grylls style. John the Baptist full of radical action is living in the desert, calling out the hypocrites, baptizing men and women, and holding the door open for Jesus Christ as God’s promised Messiah.
When John’s followers question Jesus, Jesus replies with a question. I think it is good when we are in place of doubt to let Jesus words land on us. What did you go to see?
As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:
“ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
They had gone to see a prophet, a messenger. They were drawn. Belief beckoned. There was more to come. Jesus.
There is a phase Jesus spoke in John 6:44 that helps us understand the drawing we feel, why we went, what we went to see- “the Father who sent me draws him.” The question what did you go to see points to an action of God already drawing you. They went out to the desert to see, to hear a messenger of God and to leave a life of sin. The Father sent John to prepare the way for the Son. And what about us?
Romans 3:10 “None is righteous, no, not one.” So what draws us?
Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Matthew 11:7-11
The least in the kingdom, draw us. Humble, normal, sin-forgiven people draw us. They tell us we are loved. And love is greater. Jesus is greater. And Jesus is in the least of these doing great things all the time. Do you believe this? Jesus is in you ready to do and to work great things!
What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:3
So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Gal. 3:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6
“,for God is present in the company of the righteous.” Psalm 14:5
Abraham believed God, believe and you’ll find righteousness, regardless of your quality, your ability. Abraham and Sarah were old and unable. God made them able.
My qualifications when God found amounted to about nothing. Nothing to offer, almost as bad off as Jarius’s daughter. And Jesus would lean into the conversations others would say about you the same way he did with Jarius.
Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “don’t be afraid, just believe.” Mark 5:36
Jarius’s daughter is raised to life. The outcome when Jesus gives you righteousness, is life. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Saved to life. Raised to life with Jesus, your righteousness.
