{"id":61379,"date":"2025-11-03T21:53:58","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T18:53:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=61379"},"modified":"2025-11-14T00:26:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T21:26:30","slug":"how-did-john-the-baptist-give-understanding-to-the-rebels-luke-117","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2025\/11\/03\/how-did-john-the-baptist-give-understanding-to-the-rebels-luke-117\/","title":{"rendered":"How Did John the Baptist \u201cGive Understanding to the Rebels\u201d? (Luke 1:17"},"content":{"rendered":"

Answer:<\/strong> Let\u2019s start by looking again at verse 11 of Luke 1.<\/p>\n

Luke 1:11-17 (ESV\/NIV blend):<\/strong>
\n\u201cAnd there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him, \u2018Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great before the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

These are the words the angel spoke to the elderly Zechariah about the child to be born\u2014John the Baptist. The child would be filled with the Holy Spirit even before birth, would minister in the spirit of Elijah, and would turn many Israelites back to God. Most importantly, he would \u201cgive understanding to the rebels\u201d \u2014 that is, he would bring wisdom and insight to those who are disobedient, leading them toward the righteous.<\/p>\n

Before diving deeper into what it means that John \u201cgave understanding to the rebels,\u201d let\u2019s first consider how he \u201cmade ready a people prepared for the Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n

Remember, some of Jesus\u2019 disciples were first disciples of John the Baptist\u2014like Andrew and Peter\u2019s brother (John 1:35-41). These men were already spiritually \u201cprepared\u201d before they began following Jesus, so it was not hard for them to believe or understand Jesus\u2019 message. This is what it means to make \u201ca people prepared for the Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, back to the second part: \u201cto give understanding to the rebels.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here we see two groups:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The rebels \u2014 the children of Israel who rebelled against God\u2019s law and abandoned Him (see 2 Chronicles 29:6).<\/li>\n
  2. The understanding (or \u201cmind\u201d) of the righteous.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    When the verse speaks of the \u201cunderstanding of the righteous,\u201d it implies there is also the \u201cunderstanding of the unrighteous\u201d \u2014 the mindset of those who do not know God. The \u201cunderstanding of the righteous\u201d is the kind that enables a person to see their Creator in holiness and purity. It\u2019s the kind of understanding John refers to in Luke 3:8-14, where he calls people to genuine repentance and righteous living.<\/p>\n

    Luke 3:7-14 (NIV):<\/strong>
    \n\u201cJohn said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, \u2018You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, \u2018We have Abraham as our father.\u2019 For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.\u2019 \u2018What should we do then?\u2019 the crowd asked. John answered, \u2018Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.\u2019 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. \u2018Teacher,\u2019 they asked, \u2018what should we do?\u2019 \u2018Don\u2019t collect any more than you are required to,\u2019 he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, \u2018And what should we do?\u2019 He replied, \u2018Don\u2019t extort money and don\u2019t accuse people falsely\u2014be content with your pay.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    The \u201cunderstanding of the unrighteous\u201d teaches only religious identity \u2014 that they are Jews, descendants of Abraham, and therefore chosen. But the \u201cunderstanding of the righteous\u201d teaches that being a child of Abraham is not enough. True acceptance by God requires repentance and deeds consistent with faith.<\/p>\n

    Many responded by repenting and returning to God with their actions.<\/p>\n

    Similarly today, we need the \u201cunderstanding of the righteous.\u201d We cannot simply claim to be Christians with big church affiliations and fancy biblical titles while living in a way that contradicts the essence of our faith. We must gain the mind of the righteous.<\/p>\n

    May the Lord help us.<\/p>\n

    Please share this good news with others.<\/p>\n

    \n