Wisdom is justified by all her children

The disciples of John told him of all these things. And John, calling to him two of his disciples, sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?" And when the men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, 'Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?'"

In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many that were blind he bestowed sight. 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. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me."

When the messengers of John had gone, he began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written,

'Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,
who shall prepare thy way before thee.'

I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." (When they heard this all the people and the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John; but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

"To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the market place and calling to one another,

'We piped to you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not weep.'

For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine; and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of man has come eating and drinking; and you say, 'Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by all her children."

- Luke 7:18-35

John the Baptist has been imprisoned shortly after the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan. No doubt John knows that his own demise may be near. I read in a bible commentary that John expected the Messiah to bring Judgment at his first coming. We must remember that the expectations of the Messiah are varied and depend upon prophecy. So, he sends his disciples to inquire of Jesus.

Jesus' response is indirect - he doesn't declare himself by naming himself Messiah but instead performs healings: of diseases, plagues, evil spirits, and the blind receive their sight. Jesus' response to John's disciples is to instruct them to tell John of what they have seen Jesus do. Jesus' words reflect those of the prophet Isaiah - but more to the point, they reflect the giving of life, and life given abundantly. He is not here to judge but to heal and to save; his mission is to give life in abundance.

After John's disciples leave, Jesus teaches about John - that he was a great prophet, and again indirectly referring to himself, Jesus once more uses the words of Isaiah in describing who John the Baptist is. And already there is a line drawn, here in Luke, between the ones who've been seeking life and salvation - "the people and the tax collectors" - and the ones who feel justified by law. The former had put their faith into the Baptist and his teachings of repentence, the latter did not.

Finally, Jesus compares those who demand proofs to children playing a popular game. This game was one in which children would divide into two groups. One group pretend to play instruments or wail, and the other would respond appropriately either by dancing or weeping in mourning. Jesus' comparison to the children is to say that these individuals demand a performance to suit their moods or whims of what a prophet or Messiah should do or be like.

But faith does not work in this sniping, criticizing way. It does not suit itself to polls or fashion experts, it does not follow popularity or the whims of those who wish to dictate. Nor is it given in abstraction alone. "Wisdom is justified of all her children." There is a different reality that is calling the shots, and Wisdom is of the Spirit. It is of life in abundance, it's not predictable according to one type. It does not put on appearances to suit the critical; nor does this form of criticism lend itself to faith and proper understanding. We need ears to hear and eyes to see, and hearts that are open to mercy to have this comprehension of Wisdom's children.

Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
- Wisdom 7:7