Why the Jews were more Ready to Receive John than Christ.
DR. LARDNER has the following observations which seem very much to the point. “We see here the ground of the different respect which seems to have been shown to John the Baptist and Jesus. ‘Many of the Pharisees and Sadducees came to his baptism.’ Matt. 3 : 7. And of others there seems to have been a general resort. And for some time afterwards it was dangerous to deny the validity or authority of his baptism; for all held John to be a prophet. Matt. 21 : 26. The general expectation of the Messiah raised their attention to John; but their particular idea of the Messiah disgusted them against Jesus. ‘He (says our Lord to them) was a burning and shining light, and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.’ John 5 : 35. They had no doubt but that a very great person was coming among them; and they were pleased to hear John say that he was his forerunner; but when Jesus came, he was not such a person as they wished for.”—Lardner’s Credibility of the Gospel History, vol. 1, pp. 143, 144.