Luke 7:18–23 (ESV): The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ ” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Jesus words and actions

Luke 7:24–30 (ESV): When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

John fulfills the scriptures by

Malachi 4:5–6 (ESV): Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

Luke 7:31–35 (ESV): To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, “ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ 33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”

A hard heart

Application To Consider This Week

1. Is there are area in your life where you feel you heart has been hardened? If the answer is yes, what is that and why? Take that to God and ask Him to help you to break that hardness. Ask Him to help you give grace and mercy to that situation, and area of your life that is impacted by this hardness. If the answer is no or I don’t know go to God and ask Him to reveal is there is any hardness in your heart that you are not aware of. Ask Him to reveal any hardness you may not know of.
2. Is there any area of your life you do not feel good enough in? When we do not feel good enough, or less than we have a tendency to project that on others and on God. The truth is none of us are good enough. We find rest and comfort in the fact that Jesus is good enough, that his work is sufficient. We are good enough because we are in Christ, we are righteous because we are in Christ, we are clean because we are in Christ, and this should all cause us to be humble because we are in Christ. Pray that God would help you to find peace and comfort in Christ and not in your ability or lack of measuring up.
3. Consider how Jesus interacted with people in sin, with broken people. He never beat them up verbally, or physically, but always shared the truth in love with them. What does this look like in your life? Are there people or things that need more grace and mercy and less condemnation? If there a way to better speak truth in love and extend the same grace and mercy to those just as underserving as we are? Ask God to remove any hardness of the heart for people in your life that may have frustrated or hurt you. Ask for healing and ask for help to be an ambassador for Christ who leads with compassion, grace, and mercy, without sacrificing truth.