You did not Dance

The story begins as some of John’s disciples approached Jesus as he was in the middle of healing and ministering to a crowd that had gathered. They interrupted him with a question John had sent them to ask him, “Are you the one, the expected Messiah, or should we look for another?” 

John was sitting in jail and no doubt somewhat perplexed, he had prepared his followers to expect a Messiah of Judgment, one who would wield the sword of conviction, cast the chaff from the harvest into the fire and reign judgment on the world.

In Luke's gospel John is recorded saying the following. 

“But indeed the axe is already being laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Luke 3:9)

“His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Luke 3:17)

So, when John's disciples encountered Jesus, with his acts of healing and compassion and his message of mercy and forgiveness, they were understandably confused. But Jesus answered by pointing them to the evidence right before their eyes;

“Go back and report to John what you see and hear: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” (Matthew 11:4)

After John’s disciples departed, Jesus turned to the crowd and spoke of the significance of John’s ministry. He reminded them that John came clothed in humble garments, unlike those dressed in expensive clothes and living in extravagant places. He emerged from the wilderness and was sustained by the food nature provided, John embodied simplicity and devotion. 

Jesus assured them that John was the greatest man ever born and yet still reminding everyone of heaven’s supremacy by merging the two thoughts together in one passage in Matthew.

“I assure you that no one who has ever been born is greater than John the Baptist. Yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matthew 11:11)

Jesus went on to explain that the Scriptures had foretold John’s role, how John stood firm in the spirit and power of Elijah, preparing the way for Him (the Messiah). The Pharisees, however, wanted nothing to do with this interpretation. They rejected John, with most refusing his baptism, and they likewise refused to recognize Jesus as the Messiah he claimed to be.

Their indignation only continued to grow, mainly because neither Jesus nor John would validate their self-serving rituals and self-centered displays of pride.

It does appear though; Jesus was very much aware that the powers of this world might land a few punches in the first round of this celestial battle and understood the power of the forces that opposed him; and made this ominous statement in Matthew 11:8: 

“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven is violently attacked as violent people seize it.” 

Which is a fascinating statement in itself and immersed with meaning, but for now I'll leave it at, that’s a short period of time, representing about the same amount of time as his ministry. (I believe he was parting referring to the Pharisees relentless pursuit of him leading to his crucifixion, pursuing Him by whatever forces were guiding them)

Jesus and John

Still speaking to the crowd, Jesus made it clear that he understood the Pharisees’ hostility toward both him and John. Their resentment, he explained, came down to a simple truth: neither he nor John would submit to the Pharisees’ teachings or uphold their burdensome traditions. 

Instead, they taught the people the opposite, that such rigid adherence was unnecessary, even misguided. The elaborate rituals and regulations the Pharisees imposed served only to elevate their own pride and sense of importance; they were human inventions and ceremonies of men, nothing to do with God.

Jesus understood their resentment, they were angry and frustrated, but he mocked their pettiness, because they were actually sulking, basically pouting, because neither he or John would play along. 

So he told them a parable that likened their behavior to spoiled little children playing in the marketplace, creating a trivial little game, calling out for others to join, and growing offended when no one would.

So still looking at the crowd, and now directing his words directly to the Pharisees, Jesus said in Matthew; 

“To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, calling to one another: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang dirges, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and you said, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you said, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” (Matthew 11:16)

Let's try to break this down a little bit and see what Jesus said about the Pharisees.

"We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance." The wedding celebrations and commemorations, along with rituals of their own invention, designed to elevate social standing rather than honor God, are analogous referring to the children’s games and Jesus and John refused to join in; they would not dance. 

"We sang mournful dirges, yet you did not weep." In the same way, the Pharisees imposed elaborate funeral customs and other burdensome ceremonies, practices never recommended by God. These laments, like the children’s games, carried no divine weight. Neither Jesus nor John were moved by them, for they recognized such rituals as empty creations, not true worship.

This analogy captures the situation perfectly: the children with their trivial games mirror the Pharisees with their hollow religious practices. Just as the children grew angry when their playmates refused to join their invented games, the Pharisees resented Jesus and John for refusing to conform to their distorted version of religion.

Jesus exposed the emptiness of their practice as rituals that were not true worship, but human fabrications passed down to the Pharisees by their ancestors. Neither He nor John would indulge such foolishness, uncovering their powerlessness for what it was.

“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and you said, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you said, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! 

In this verse Jesus exposed the absurdity of their charges against John and himself. John lived with discipline, he neither drank wine nor pursued indulgence, fasted diligently, lived honestly and uprightly. Yet they accused him of being possessed by a demon. 

And against Him, they condemned Him for keeping company with tax collectors and sinners, labeling Him, who is the Messiah, a glutton and a drunkard. Against these ridiculous contradictions. 

Jesus offered a simple reminder: “Wisdom is proven right by her deeds.”

Conclusion

So, let’s do the math on the deeds:

John: upright and honorable he abstained from wine, preached repentance, baptized in God’s name, and foretold the coming Messiah.

Jesus: preached forgiveness and compassion, healed the sick, raised the dead, the blind could see and the deaf can hear, he proclaimed mercy for the persecuted and offered eternal life to those who believe..

Pharisees: delivered a message that weighed down the people with burdens while enriching themselves socially and financially.

When you add it all up, the Pharisees’ case doesn’t look very strong.

  

 “This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men,” (Matthew 15:8-9)