"We Piped Unto You, And you Did Not Dance,..."
In Luke 7:32, Jesus likened the men of that generation unto children that sat
and played in the marketplace. The comparison came from the self-centeredness
of children who insisted on piping the tune for others to dance to. Those men had refused the message of both John and Jesus - “ repent! ” - with their childish assertions about John not eating, and Jesus both eating and drinking. (vs. 33-34)
It was not just those men who sought to control others. Self-assertion also came from James and John – two of Jesus' closest disciples. Even their mother prompted their seeking a position of authority. (Mt.20:20-21) Earlier, the disciples had forbid a man casting out demons in Jesus' name, just because he did not follow with them . Jesus replied, “ Forbid not : for he that is not against you is for you.” – Luke 9:49-50
Neither was the early church free of such egotistic self-assertion. Paul told the Ephesian elders that from among them, men would arise to draw away disciples after themselves (Acts 20:30 ). He later wrote to Timothy to reprove such men :“Them that sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest may fear.”- 1 Timothy 5:20 No one is above reproof. Further, “Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them,” had cast out of the church , some who had received those sent by John. (3 John 9-10)
From the Pharisees to the disciples to Diotrephes, we see the desire to control, to pipe the tune for others. Jesus said, “You know that they who are accounted to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it is not so among you: but whosoever would become great among you, shall be your minister; and whosoever would be first among you, shall be servant of all.” – Mark 10:42-44. May we examine ourselves for any desire to control others.
9/28/05 wm