Maybe the crowd thought that Jesus was just talking about John the Baptist, and maybe felt some strange kind of comfort in that John was being rebuked. We can often feel better when others get in trouble! However, things tend not to work that way with Jesus, and He now turns to the crowds. In fact He does this on a number of occasions, the focus will be on one person, then He will turn the matter on to the crowd.
John knew what he was doing, what he was hoping for, believing for. The crowd, for the most part, were just onlookers, not really knowing what they wanted, not wanting to commit to anything. Those who commit themselves to Jesus and to following His plan will fail and struggle from time to time. In those times we may need to receive discipline from the Lord, but we will not receive rejection. And we had better be careful about our reaction to others when they stumble, making sure there is no gloating on our part.
The crowd had gone to see a prophet, they knew John was a prophet. So they should treat His words as they would those of a prophet. John came proclaiming the king and the kingdom. They needed to get into the kingdom. We can always find all sorts of excuses and reasons for not doing something.
Instead of heeding the word, the people found fault. John was very austere, and so they complained that he was too strict, too severe. Jesus was very different, so they complained that He was too keen on enjoying life. In neither case did they listen to the message.
We really do need to beware when we find ourselves always finding fault in others. It is rarely a sign of true wisdom.
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