Luke 7:18-35
Key Verses: 7:22,23

"So he replied to the messengers, ‘Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.'"

1. Read verses 18-20. Where was John? (Mt 11:2) With what question and for what reason did John send his disciples to Jesus?

2. Read verses 21-23. What was Jesus doing? How did he answer John's disciples? What does his answer reveal about him and the work of the Messiah? (18; 4:18; Isa 35:5,6) Why is it important to know the difference between worldly history and the history of God? (23) Think of some people with a sense of history--Isa 6; Rev 1:7,8.

3. Read verses 24-28. How did Jesus rebuke the ignorant and indifferent people? How do Jesus' questions expose the indifference of the people? Even though John was in prison, Jesus taught them that John was the greatest man in history. Why do you think so?

4. Read verses 29-30. Ordinary people were baptized by John and said, "God's way is right." What does it mean? How did the Pharisees respond? What was their sin before God?

5. Read verses 31-35. How did Jesus describe these religious leaders? How did they show their childishness? Why must leaders not be childish? Why was Jesus happy in spite of their rejection? Who are the children of wisdom? How can we have a sense of God's history in light of this passage?