The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 186

Mrl thRt ao much of tho culture of Israel has sepe.rated from Isre.el's hope, has declared its contentment with e. mere barren pantheism; that so much of its piety is busied wiLh the eITort to explain away the obvious mea.ning of the old prophecies, or to deny their reference to the Anointed One. But the Jew still liveta, and the land of the Jew still waits, Pray for the conversion and restoration of Israel, when the people that sit in darkness shall see the problem solved which has for so long been the stumbling- stone and rock of offence, "Jesus of Nazareth, art thou he who was promised to come, or must we continue to look for another?" II. Now, OBSERVE TIIE LoRD'B ANSWER. It is: 1. A WOf'd to John. The reply to the inquiry is given" in that hour." The messengers are charged to return and tell (vers. 22, 23) what things they saw and heard. The works of Christ are the credentials of his mission, not because they are miraculous, but because they are the kind of works appro- priate to the Sent of God. Recognizing the supernatural efficacy of Christ's kingdom, the witness for b1m is chiefly what he does, what Christianity effects wherever it is truly received. We see it breathing a new life, inspiring with a new hope, awaking new powers, putting to flight the armies of the aliens-a power of God to salvation. E.g. Lady Barker, in her charming letters from South Africa, ~ays, "I feel it incumbent on me to bear testimony, not only in this instance and in this colony, to the enormous 11mount of real, tangible, common-sense good accomplished among the bl:i.ck races all over the world by Wesleyan, Methodist, and Baptist missionaries." So, universally. it is the kind of life which Christ's teaching produces; it is the wondrous changes it man himself, and therefore in man's world, which the spirit of his life accomplishes, which, to a.II earnest inquirers, settles the issue, "Art thou he that should come?" •• Blessed "-with gentle authority the Master adds-" blessed is he whosoever shall find none occasion of stumbling in me." 2. A WOf'd concerning Juhn after the messengers have departed. "A word," says Farrar, "of rhythmic and perfect lovelioess" (vers. 24-28). Mark the conclusioo, however-Greater prophet than he now immured in Herod's gloomy prison never was born of woman. Yet this must be added, be who is reallf within the kingdom, who has really received the kingdom in receiving Jesus as the King, however inferior to him in gifts and force, is a partaker of fuller blessing and privilege than he. •• With all my imperfections," said Bunsen, on his dying bed, "I have ever striven after the best. But the best and noblest is to have known JesW1 Christ.n 3. A word to the unsympathetic and opposing Pharisees and lawyers. The people endorse the eulogy passed on John; but the Pharisees and lawyers frown. It is with reference to their unreasonable petulance that the sentences vers. 31-35 are spoken. What could satisfy such carpers? Verily, t.heir successors are to be found in our day. The mind that is enmity against God will make faults, will twist any evidence, will imitate the children who will not be pleased, no matter what is done to evoke their response. Poor pedants! "they must stay in the dark until they are tired of it." Very different from such are the children of the true wisdom. They recognize and honour her under different types and forms. Wherever they see the prints of her shoes, there they love to put their feet also. "Wisdom is justified of all her children.n