1073 men. He made but little of the exac tions required by the Pharisees, and they said He was a glutton and a wine- bibber. » They would not receive the message of John, neither would they receive the message of Jesus. They would not play. They sulked,— grum bled. The publicans and sinners went out and were baptized by John, and when Jesus came with His message of life and love, they believed and followed Him. They set their seal to the truth, and by their acts bondemned the Scribes and Pharisees. Following this parable comes the sol emn note of impending judgment for those who had trifled with the truth. Invocation: The Lord lifts His heart in thanksgiving to His Father as the Sovereign because His testimony had been accepted by a few humble ones. He calls them “ babes” . The babe lives by drawing its sustenance from an other. Worldly wisdom is not the or gan of perception of spiritual things, but rather a barrier. The key to this invocation is thanks for the childlike ness of some. No training or develop ment can fit any one for a revelation from God. The heart, not the head, is the avenue for God’s approach. A child has no wisdom. It is simple in its ignorance. It is teachable. A child looks up and calls God “ Father” and from His inexhaustible supply finds all sufficiency for its need. Infinite Power: “ All things are de livered unto Me.” This is a profound statement and is to be accepted in the most comprehensive sense. “ All things” both terrestrial and celestial. (PhiL 2:10). All things are in His hands (John 3:35). All power is committed unto Him (Matt. 28:18). All judg ment is committed unto Him (John 5:22). All enemies are to be put under His feet (1 Cor. 15:25; Heb., 2 :8). Angels, authorities and powers are subject to Him (.1 Pet. 3:22). Coupled with the assertion of His.
THE KI NG ' S BUSINESS (Mark 1:7; Jphn 3:28-30). Now Christ confesses John as one of the greatest of earth’s great men (v. 11). John was a man of convictions. He did not permit the Pharisees and Sad- ducees to be baptized (Matt. 3:7, 8). John was a man of courage. He told the king that it was unlawful for him to have Herodias as his wife (Matt. 14:4). He was a modest man. He con fessed his unworthiness to bear the Messiah’s shoes (Matt.« 3:11). John was a separated man. He lived a life of self-renunciation. He was a prophet (v. 9) and was himself the subject of prophecy (Mai. 3 :1). “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his tem- pie, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.’’ - With him, the line of prophets ceased. He lived to see the day when the great prophecies concerning the first coming of the Messiah were ful filled; lived to look into His face and announce the King at the door. But great as were his privileges, he did not live to enjoy the privileges of the kingdom. John was the friend of the Bridegroom (John 3:39). He had great joy in being the forerunner, and did not hesitate to declare that he must decrease; his light must wane as the light of the Lord Jesus shone forth. (3) THE CONDEMNING AND CALL ING, vs. 20-30. “Woe unto thee! * * * Come unto Me.” Jesus closes His commendation of John with a paragraph in which He condemns the critical Jews. He likens the Scribes and Pharisees to children whose comrades have sought to play with them. They have played that it was a funeral, but the others would not play, the game. They played it was a wedding, but still they sulked. They would not play. John came demand ing repentance. He lived an austere life and spoke of judgment, but they said he was too austere; that , he had a demon. Jesus came mingling with
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