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sermons by IVOR POWELL

A REED SHAKEN BY THE WIND (LUKE 7:19-24).

This story concerning John the Baptist is one of the most

dramatic in the Bible. Although the following names may be

meaningless to most people, the fact that Ambrose, Hilary,

Chrysostom, Theophylact, Calvin, Beza and Melancthon discussed

the incident and wrote their findings for posterity, proves

that John's request fascinated the religious scholars of successive

generations. More recently the debates continued with Meyer,

Ewald, Godet, Plumptre, Farrar and others, and apparently,

so to speak, John the Baptist started a ball rolling which never

stopped. To say the least, his question to Jesus: "Art thou he

that should come?" created unprecedented problems.

John had been imprisoned for approximately 18 months and

lived alone with his memories. Beneath the blue skies of Galilee

he had preached to enormous crowds, and for a while at

least, had been the central figure in Israel. His forthright presentation

of truth, his unshakable faith and courage, won an abiding

place in the hearts of all listeners. Soldiers, priests and

statesmen attended his services, and John's exploits were discussed

in every Hebrew home. His dynamic ministry stirred

every part of the nation; he had been God's anointed ambassador.

Unfortunately, that time of spiritual refreshing had been

replaced by solitude and incarceration in Herod's dungeon. Everything

had changed dramatically, and for prolonged periods

of time, John's only companions were the spiders who spun

their webs in the corners of his cell. When the prisoner reminisced

and relived the experiences he had known in the Jordan

Valley, his mind Ä so some theologians believe Ä became a

prey to doubt.

Occasionally John's disciples were permitted to visit their

master, but their conversation never promoted comfort and confidence.

They were his only means of communicating with the

outside world, but alas, they brought disconcerting news of

current events. "Master," said one of his friends, "do you remember

that Camenter from Nazareth whom you baptized?

You suggested He would be our Messiah. Did you make a

mistake? It would be extremely difficult to find a more unlikely

candidate for that position. That man neither speaks nor acts

like a king of Israel. You denounced hypocrites; He dines with

them. We expected Him to expel our enemies, but He fraternizes

with them. John, is it possible that you were mistaken when

you led us to believe He would deliver Israel?"

"And John calling unto him two of his disciples, sent them

to Jesus saying: Art thou he that should come or look we for

another?" Throughout the history of the church, theologians

have inquired: "Did John ask that question because his faith

had weakened, or did he send his friends knowing the Lord

alone could solve their problems?" Later, when Christ replied

to the question, He said: "What went ye out into the wilderness

for to see a reed shaken by the wind?" The banks of the

Jordan River were lined with plants of many kinds, and when

the winds blew through the valley, the rustle of the reeds could

easily be heard. They swayed and leaned with the breeze. Had

John been a shaking, bending reed? Some teachers believe his

faith, temporarily, had weakened.

The Wind of Adversity.. . The danger of doubt

During World War II, Wales was extensively damaged by

German bombs. Beautiful homes were reduced to rubble, and

the town of Swansea was obliterated. It was annoying to hear

people grumbling and asking: "Why did God permit this to

happen?" Many of the questioners never attended any church

and scoffed at religion. Yet, in times of trouble, they blamed

God Whom they had ignored.

There is a great difference between a shaking reed and an

unyielding oak tree, yet there are people who resemble both.

Birds may nest safely in a tree, but a shaking reed is a poor

haven in a tempest. Did John become increasingly despondent

as he listened to the depressing conversation of his friends? Did

he permit their biased opinions to darken the blue sky of his

serenity? When his faith weakened, did he dispatch his friends

on a regrettable errand?

When I was a young Christian, the son of our pastor came to

stay in our home. His parents were away on business, and my

mother consented to care for the small boy during their ab-

sence. When it was time for the lad to go to bed, I listened and

smiled when he prayed: "Oh, God, I'm not going to pray to You

anymore. You do not answer my prayers anyhow. I asked You

last night that I should have all my sums right today, and I had

two wrong. It's no good asking You anything!" That small child

was a forerunner of many older people with similar complaints.

On the other hand, there is in the forest a vine which wraps

itself around oak trees. It matters not from which direction the

wind blows, the vine is either sheltered by the tree or pressed

closer to it. It is better to cling than complain!

The Wind of Hypocrisy... The disaster of defiance

One day, when I was visiting homes in a rural area of Herefordshire,

I met a very hospitable Irishman who expressed interest

in the Gospel. He was so enthusiastic that I asked why he

had not attended my meetings in the nearby Methodist church.

Instantly, his countenance changed as he replied, "Oh no, I will

never enter that place again. I have not been inside those doors

for fifteen years." I asked what had happened at that time, and

he cited an argument with a church leader. With God's help I

brought those stubborn men together and that evening saw four

people surrendering to Christ. The incident reminded me of

what happened when the sons of Israel's high priest disgraced

their calling.

..... the sin of the young men was very great before the

LORD; for men abhorred the offering of the LORD" (1 Sam.

2:17). At that early period in Jewish history there were no

synagogues throughout the nation, and if men desired to visit

the house of God, they journeyed to Shiloh to attend one of the

festivals. People anticipated the occasion, for it became a religious

vacation when they met friends from all over the country.

When the evil conduct of the priests became known, citizens

detested the improprieties, and many families refused to obey

the commandment to be present at Shiloh. The shekinah glory

might be residing over the Tabernacle, but the winds of hypocrisy

had blown it from the hearts of men and women. They saw

the offenders but lost sight of the Lord.

The Wind of Complicity. . . The defeat in departing

"For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present

world, and is departed unto Thessalonica" (2 Tim. 4:10). Poor

Demas, a yearning heart had destroyed his happiness. The drudgery

of serving a prisoner irritated his soul, and in his restlessness,

he found the beckoning night-lights of the world too glamorous

to resist

Perhaps he believed the approaching death of Paul would

leave him without sustenance. What could be done if he were

left alone in an alien city? Maybe Demas longed to participate

in pleasures which Paul condemned. The women, wine and

songs of Rome were attractive, but how could he enjoy the

attractions of the city when his friend remained in a prison cell?

Then he thought of an alternative. He would go to Thessalonica,

and be free to do whatever he desired. It may never be

known how he felt when he made his final visit to the apostle.

His eyes were furtive; his face flushed as he tried to conceal the

uneasiness within his soul.

He had become a reed shaken by the wind, and although he

did not yet realize the magnitude of his mistake, he was destined

to regret his action. He deserted his best friend, and denied the

Lord. Throughout the history of the church millions of professing

Christians, unfortunately, have emulated his example.

If the pleasures of the world can be likened to a tree, then its

fruits are numerous. An excessive desire to make money either

by legitimate or illegitimate means; a desire to reach the top of

a profession at any cost; the surrendering of spiritual convictions

to enjoy something prohibited by the Word of God; or an

illicit association which saps moral and spiritual strength. These

are the adverse winds which prove whether a man is a shaking

reed or a dependable Christian.

Mr. Robert Robinson, who wrote the hymn, "Come, Thou

fount of every blessing," unfortunately became a reed shaken

by the wind. He lost his communion with God, and in an attempt

to alleviate his misery, traveled around the world. He met

a young lady who asked what he thought of her favorite hymn,

and was astonished to discover she had fallen in love with his

own composition. He tried to evade her question, but she insist-

ed on obtaining an answer. Finally, he confessed he was the

author of those verses, but he had lost the joy of serving Christ.

The young Christian reminded the sorrowful man that "the

streams of mercy" mentioned in his hymn were still flowing.

That girl changed his life, and the shaken reed found new stability

in Christ.

Some theologians believe John had been influenced by the

winds of adversity, but the evidence supporting that conclusion

is not irrefutable. Dr. G. Campbell Morgan and many other

illustrious teachers rejected that idea, affirming that John never

wavered from his initial convictions and was undisturbed by

the events which resulted in his imprisonment and death.

John knew what would happen even before he was arrested

by Herod. He announced: "He must increase, but I must decrease"

(John 3:30). God revealed to His servant the identity of

the Messiah, and evidently imparted knowledge concerning the

nature of His sacrificial ministry. John announced to his listeners

that the Carpenter was `The Lamb of God which would

take away the sins of the world" (John 1:29) and the idea that

the evangelist lost his faith is unacceptable.

John's Witness... the tremendous message

When an angel predicted the birth of John the Baptist, he

said: ..... he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his

mother's womb" (see Luke 1:15). It is beyond comprehension

that, even in embryonic form, John was controlled by the Spirit

of God. That child grew to be the official representative of the

Almighty, and wherever and whenever he ministered, the Lord

endorsed what he did and said. He possessed a spiritual insight

that few men had. His statement, "Behold the Lamb of God

that taketh away the sins of the world," indicated the sacrifices

in former dispensations pointed to Christ; that, whereas they

met the need of individuals, Jesus became the Savior of the

world. The wilderness preacher was controlled by the Almighty,

but he knew his own ministry would soon terminate. His statement,

"He must increase, I must decrease," said all that needed

to be said. It is unlikely that such a man would be influenced by

the gossip of a few disappointed disciples.

John's Worry... the troubled men

It was always unwise to argue with people already convinced!

The followers of John were not only disappointed by the demise

of their leader, they were jealous of the Man Who succeeded

him. Their enthusiasm had been limitless, and it was difficult to

understand why their leader should be imprisoned while Another

inherited his popularity. Perhaps those troubled men felt they

had been robbed of pre-eminence in a national revival. The

disciples of John missed the thrills of attending their master's

meetings; life had become empty and meaningless.

John welcomed his visitors, but frowned when he realized

the cause of their despondency. What could be done to help

them? He would send them to Jesus, Who would know how to

dispel their doubts. "Brothers," he said, "will you do something

for me? Go and ask Jesus if He is the Messiah, and tell Him I

sent you." John smiled and said to himself: `The Lord will

know what to do." "And in that same hour he (Jesus) cured

many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and

unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering

said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have

seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the

lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the

poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall

not be offended in me" (Luke 7:21-23, italics mine).

John's Wisdom.., the thrilling Master

"And when the messengers of John were departed, he (Jesus)

began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye

out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the

wind?. . . I say unto you, Among those that are born of women

there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that

is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he" (Luke 7:24,

28). That strange, yet wonderful utterance, caused endless discussion

among theologians. It is difficult to believe the most

insignificant, uneducated believer in an African village would

be greater than the man who foreran the Savior! Others believe

Jesus referred to Himself; that since He assumed the lowest

place among men, He was still much greater than John.

There is no problem in the words of the Lord. Christ came to

establish a new spiritual order: the kingdom of God on earth.

He created something hitherto unknown: a realm to which John

never belonged. Jesus emphasized that, where a man was exceeded

the importance of what he was! The least inside the

kingdom was greater than the greatest outside the kingdom.

John was not a reed shaken by the wind; leaning one way

today, and another tomorrow. Christ's commendation was not a

cover-up! John stood tall in the sight of God, but the question

maybe asked How tall is tall?

An edition of The Sunday School Times carried an interesting

story. Centuries ago two boys named Martin came into

contact with Christ. One of them, later known as Martin of

Basle, wrote on a piece of parchment: "0 most merciful Christ.

I know I can be saved only by the merit of Thy precious blood.

Holy Jesus, I acknowledge Thy sufferings for me. I love Thee;

I love Thee." He removed a stone from a wall in his house, and

hid his message. It was discovered 100 years later when the

home was demolished.

The other boy was Martin Luther, who said: "My Lord has

confessed me before men. I will not shrink from confessing

Him before kings." Today, everybody reveres the memory of

Luther, but Martin of Basle remains only a name. It would not

be difficult to decide which of the two men resembled the

evangelist who cried: "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh

away the sin of the world."