John Prepared the Way

Matthew 11:7-10 (ESV)
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? [8] What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. [9] What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. [10] This is he of whom it is written,

" 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.'

Jesus begins to praise John as John’s disciples leave.
It is peculiar that they leave. These have to be the densest disciples known to man. Extremely loyal might be the more charitable way. But the fact that they go away, is reason that I’m not always so sure John was asking Jesus for their benefit. If he was doing that I think they might have been smart enough to stay. I think John really wanted to know the answer.
In anycase the disciples go away. This might point to another tendency in man. John was strict. He fasted when Jesus’ disciples did not. He followed the law. He preached repentance a bit more than forgiveness. He had an eschatological outlook on the coming kingdom and preached about the axe being laid to the root of the trees. He insulted the Pharisees in even harsher terms than Jesus. In other word’s he prepared the way for Jesus, the same way law prepares the way for the gospel.
But man does not always get the point. Man is hung up with law. And this more than anything is a result of our sinful nature. Our Old Adam is normally not a hedonist. The Old Adam plays his card both ways. Sure he pulls at you and tempts you with all sorts of sins of the flesh, adultery, murder, mammon, drunkenness, the list goes on. We get the picture. But the Old Adam is also a pietist. He is also a legalist. It is the Old Adam, your flesh that would tempt you to think that you are going to earn your salvation. It is your Old Adam that tempts you to believe that you will lose your salvation if you don’t “grow in your sanctification.” It is just as much your sinful self that tempts you with that as it is your sinful self that tempts you to get drunk on Friday night, or have an affair with your coworker. It is in this that the devil appears as an angel of light. He would have you trust in your good works rather than Christ. And when sin is revealed it is this side of your Old Adam that is the most disgusting.
But it is this side that keeps you hanging on the law, and puts obstacles in the way of trusting the gospel. It is for this reason that the disciples return to John. Man returns to the law like a dog to his vomit. We all do. So that which prepares the way, is often confused for The Way. It is this that turns Christ into a new Moses. It is this that despite the cross and resurrection of Christ, turns the gospel of Christ into the worst news ever reported, a head line that reads over the conscience “You Have Not Yet Done Enough!” And it is vile sin, the most vile to reject the cross in such away. But we are comfortable with the law, too comfortable with it.
John prepared the way, but Christ has come. The law is there to prepare us for the Gospel, to make us ready to receive the forgiveness of sins, to teach us that we cannot but trust in the cross of Jesus Christ as it is our only hope.