Matthew 11:1-19

Matthew 11:1-19 (New International Version)

 ¹After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

 ²When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples ³to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"

 ⁴Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, thedead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. ⁶Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."

 ⁷As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ⁸If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces.⁹Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰This is the one about whom it is written: 
   " 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, 
      who will prepare your way before you.' ¹¹I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹²From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. ¹³For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. ¹⁴And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. ¹⁵He who has ears, let him hear.

 ¹⁶"To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 
 ¹⁷" 'We played the flute for you, 
      and you did not dance; 
   we sang a dirge 
      and you did not mourn.' ¹⁸For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' ¹⁹The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

Devotional (by Mikey Skoglund)

This passage is very telling of the way that mankind sees God.  When John's disciples go and ask Jesus if He is really the One that they've been waiting for, He basically says "Look at my actions, do they not show you who I really am?".  And then He goes on to talk about John to those who are listening and how John was a messenger sent to come before Christ came. Yet people still don't seem to get it.  You see, people just took John for a crazy person because he abstained from eating so much, and he was a very rugged man who lived in the wilderness. They took Jesus for a glutton and drunkard because He feasted so much and He ate with people who were deemed as "sinners".  So Jesus is explaining to people how John came to point the way to Jesus being the Savior of the world, but when Jesus does come, people just think He's some sort of glutton and drunkard that hangs out with deadbeats.  

So you see, Jesus is saying that the popular opinion here (that hanging out with tax collectors and "sinners") is a very skewed perception. Jesus just wants people to know that He came to love people unconditionally and He's willing to help those who admit that they've messed up and screwed up their lives.  And He just wants us to love one another as we love ourselves.  To let go of all the stuff that gets in the way of those two things, and to be able to take the road that Jesus took, even though it is the less popular route in our generation.  

Prayer
Lord, please help me to be more like You.  I know that I tend to follow my own ways above Yours at times, but continue to give me the strength to follow You andthe wisdom to hear Your promptings in my life.  Thank You for revealing Yourself to me and for coming to earth to save me.