"They are like children sitting in the market place and calling out to each other, `We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry'" (Luke 7:32).

"Men and women of this generation, you are like discontented offspring who don't want to dance to another's tune, but you want others to play your game of criticizing. You were angry with John because he would have nothing to do with your self-indulgent feasts; you disdained Me because I could not abide your hypocritical fasts and your licentiousness.

"What do you want, my perverse and contradictory children? Can you not have both Christian abstinence and Christian participation? Of course! True, I was not an ascetic as was John, but it was my will that John did what he did. But you are not to follow John. You are to follow Me, and I chose to participate in my Father's good gifts. My Father's gifts are

1) sanctified with gratitude;
2) controlled with moderation; and
3) beautified with benevolence."

"Every worthwhile gift, every genuine benefit comes from above," (James 1:17) so let us not only not forget but also enjoy our Father's benefits. Jesus and John demonstrate two different approaches to life but with the one aim to do God's will. John, the last prophet of the old dispensation of law, gave way to Jesus who brought in the new order of the gospel. The one demanded outward righteousness; the other requires inward purity.

John was solitary and Jesus was sociable. It was that simple and delightful and acceptable. It is too easy for us to misjudge another because that person is either one. Our Creator purposely made us different and distinguished. The Pharisees of all ages have trouble accepting this.