As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Matt 11:7 (NIV)

The longest train ever was not in Texas. Sorry Texans. The longest train ever put together was in Australia hauling iron ore. How long was it? Eight engines pulling 682 cars. Imagine waiting for it to pass at twenty miles an hour and wanting to be at church on time.

Jesus posed a question three times and answers it three times. He was very patient when it came to teaching people in His day. He spoke in terms they could understand. The question was, "What did you go to see?" He asks the question and gives answers so the people would understand the significance of what He was teaching.

"When John was out in the desert what did you go to see?" The wind blowing the grass? A nice man in nice clothes saying nice things? NO, you went to see a prophet and He was more than just a preacher -–he was the messenger sent by God to announce my coming!

In the course of your life you have heard many sermons and you remember a phrase or two from a few of them. You remember some preachers but not all. If you ever attended a Billy Graham crusade you remember Dr. Graham, the audience, the setting and other details. "What did you go to see?"

A sermon is a three-way conversation: God, the preacher and you. Maybe you don’t say "Amen" but you are thinking about what is being said. You hear the preacher but you are also hearing God and when you do, you are mentally and spiritually expressing your opinion. There is conversation.

As we study God’s word and learn of Jesus, let us remember that God is speaking to our souls. What have we come to see, to hear or to say? The people Jesus spoke to went to the desert for various reasons – some to be entertained, some to hear the word of God, some seeking a miracle. "What have you come to see?"