Scripture
But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John. Luke 7:30
Observations
This verse has two important parts. The first is to state that the Pharisees rejected God's purpose for themselves. The second is the evidence of that rejection, that they had not been baptized by John. A general observation, how terrible to reject God's purpose for Yourself. What emptiness that must leave in Your soul. Viktor Frankl writes in so many books, particularly Man's Search for Meaning, how important, even life saving it is to have meaning, or purpose in Your life. If we reject God's purpose for ourselves, then whatever purpose we pursue falls very short from what would truly fulfill us and bring satisfaction and fullness in our lives.
Of course, that leads us to the obvious question, what is God's purpose for us? What is God's purpose for me? I think first we have to look at this verse, then explore from there. The evidence that the Pharisees and lawyers had rejected God's purpose was that they had not been baptized by John? Is that it? Just get dunked, poured or sprinkled and You're good to go? No. What did it mean to be baptized by John? What was John's baptism about?
Luke 3:3 starts us on the journey to understanding John's baptism. “And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” There are two parts of John's baptism: repentance and forgiveness. The first part is something that we do, the second part is something that God does. They are inextricably intertwined. We are to repent. We are to turn around, to turn away from walking in our own sinful ways, and walk in God's way. There are two ways to go: away from God, or with God. The Pharisees rejected repentance. Presumably they did so because they did not think that they had to repent. They were righteous, and they knew it. They kept the law. They kept more than the law. They put boundaries around the law, six feet away from the actual requirements, just to make sure they didn't stray into sin. No, in their eyes, they did not need to repent.
Forgiveness is the other aspect to John's baptism. We don't do the forgiving here, God does. When we repent, God forgives. It's who he is. It's what he does. It's what he wants. God is love. God loves, and therefore he forgives. He wants a relationship with us, and for that to happen, we have to choose to walk with him. The water in baptism is the outward and visible sign of the unitary acts of repentance and forgiveness, and therefore in forgiveness our sins are figuratively washed away. Unknowingly, the Pharisees and lawyers are also rejecting God's forgiveness, again because they don't recognize their need for forgiveness.
Does God's purpose for us end there? I don't think so. The passage in Luke 3 goes on to talk about how those receiving John's baptism asked what they should be doing, and John gives them practical answers for their lives. This is a part of repentance, the walking in God's ways, walking with God, instead of away from the Almighty. God's purpose for us is that we should change. Repentance is also about change. God created humankind in his own image. That's what it says in Genesis. According to Jesus, God is spirit. John 4:24. God doesn't have a physical aspect that we are supposed to reflect, no long beard or thunderous voice. Rather, our image should be like God's spiritual being. I think of any of the virtue lists we might find in the New Testament. Galatians 5 has such a list: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” It seems to be that this is a picture of God, and this is the image that we were created to have. God's purpose is to recreate that image in each of us. Unknowingly, again, the lawyers and Pharisees rejected this purpose for themselves.
The people asked John what they should do. John gave specifics, and from that I think we can draw generalizations. In Matthew Jesus said, “Let Your light shine before men in such a way that they may see Your good works, and glorify Your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16. This is also God's purpose for us. May we not reject it.
Application
“The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Luke 7:22b. Jesus said this to John's emissaries as his answer to the question, “are You the one?” I can't make the blind see, the lame walk or heal anyone of anything. I certainly can't raise the dead. I can proclaim the good news, and I don't do that very much. But how will they hear, if no one will teach? I need to start looking for ways to tell those around me about Jesus. I don't have congregations of believers to preach to, but there is a much bigger congregation of unbelievers that need to hear the forgiveness of God in Jesus.
Prayer
Lord, You know me. You know that I get shy, and back away from putting the gospel on my sleeve, so to speak. It is like I am waiting for someone to come along and ask me to tell them about Jesus. I don't think that's going to happen. Forgive me for keeping the gospel in a jar buried in my spiritual back yard. Show me the people You want me to open up to, and embolden me to speak. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Father, break these chains that bind us. Open the door to new adventures where kindred hearts wait. Grant us courage in Jesus! Amen.