When John’s messengers had departed, he
began to tell the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness
to see? A reed shaken by the wind? A man in fine clothing? No, those who are
fashionably dressed, and live elegantly, are in kings’ courts. What did you go
out to see? A prophet? Yes, and much more than a prophet. This is the one of
whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’
“Among those who are born of women
there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer, yet he who is least in
God’s kingdom is greater than he.”
When all the people and the tax
collectors heard this, they declared God to be righteous, having been baptized
with John’s baptism. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of
God, not being baptized by him themselves.
“To what then shall I compare the
people of this generation? They are like children who sit in the marketplace,
and call to one another, saying, ‘We piped to you, and you didn’t dance. We
mourned, and you didn’t weep.’ For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread
nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has an evil spirit.’ The Son of Man has
come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Wisdom is justified by all her
children.”
John and Jesus were strongly connected to each other even
though they were very different. John was criticized by some for being too
austere; Jesus for not being austere enough. How badly do you want people to
hold you in high regard? What does it cost you to try to please everybody?
Prayer: Set me free, Lord, from thinking my happiness depends
on everyone liking me.
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