As the Forerunner perused his unique calling on the far side of the Jordan, he attracted a large following among the people and thus, he also attracted the attention of the religious authorities. As their delegated representatives interrogated the Forerunner, both the questions and the answers reveal truth about the Savior's coming and ministry as well as the false expectations, prejudice, ignorance, and blindness of the Pharisees. At this point, the eventual antagonism (between the Pharisees and the Savior) is not yet apparent. Nevertheless, the seeds of what would become an implacable opposition were already in the Jewish religious soil of the day. Among other lessons, this is an excellent example of the abiding truth that mere sincere religious affections, or vast religious knowledge is not the path to true spiritual enlightenment. Rather, the path is the humble acceptance of the truth attested to by the Forerunner: the sinfulness of fallen human nature, the obligation of repentance, the need for cleansing, and the fulfilled promise of a sin-bearing Savior. – Pastor Schlegel |
