“After John’s messengers left, 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? 25If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27This is the one about whom it is written: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.” 28I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.’ 29(All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)” – Luke 7:24-30
To reject God’s purpose for your life has to be the worst decision anyone could make.
I can sympathize with those who aren’t sure what the Lord wants for them. It’s tough to live with more questions than answers, when uncertainty dogs your steps and makes you doubt your decisions. “Is this right? Will God approve? I hope I don’t screw up!”
I also relate to those who don’t reject God’s will but fear it instead. The Lord calls people to boldness and bravery, and the marching orders they get can prove intimidating. Many in the Bible didn’t think they had what it took to do what God commanded them.
Moses
“But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’” – Exodus 3:11
Joshua
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
Gideon
“‘Pardon me, my lord,’ Gideon replied, ‘but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.’” – Judges 6:15
But the Pharisees spurned God’s purpose for themselves. Which was what exactly? What was the Lord’s intention for them?
According to Jesus, it was connected to the ministry of John the Baptist. God sent this prophet to pave the way for the Messiah.
“This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: ‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”’” – Matthew 3:3
How was John going to get the Jewish people ready?
“And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” – Mark 1:4
The nation had to repent. Everyone–moral paragons and hardened sinners–needed to confess their transgressions and humble themselves by submitting to the act of baptism. Only if Israel had the right frame of mind would she receive the God’s Anointed One.
“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” – Psalm 51:6
“For this is what the high and exalted One says– he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” – Isaiah 57:15
The Pharisees knew the Scriptures; they were the ones who cared enough about the people to teach them God’s Word. But in their zeal for His laws and ways, they missed what it all pointed to: the Christ, the only one who is holy.
“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” – John 5:39-40
“Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?” – John 8:46
To repent of sin and follow Jesus–that was God’s will. And when the Pharisees rejected this, they lost out on what Jesus referred to as “life.”
What kind of life would the Pharisees have had if they had believed in Christ?
I believe they would have been among the most fruitful leaders of the early church. Few were as prepared to spread the gospel as the Pharisees.
They studied the Bible until they knew it backward and forward.
They taught the Scriptures to the common folk because they were convinced that everyone needed to know the thoughts of God.
They possessed trade and craft skills that could help them when they traveled. For example, the apostle Paul, who himself was a Pharisee, assembled tents. He worked when he needed money to finance his mission.
“Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, ‘My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.’” – Acts 23:6
“Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.” – Acts 18:1-4
How many of the Pharisees in Israel who heard Jesus preach had a missionary calling like Paul? They could have spread the good news and reaped a great harvest of souls.
But they didn’t.
Because they rejected God’s purpose for themselves.
What’s God’s plan for you? Whatever you may believe or wish it to be, the unfolding of His purpose in your life begins when you repent of sin and trust in Jesus. And as you follow Christ, He will fulfill God’s good intentions for you.
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” – Jeremiah 29:11
Don’t miss out!
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