Rejecting God's purpose, easier than we think

But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John. (Luke 7:30)

I find the above verse, as well as verse 29 of the same chapter to be one of the most amazing statements in the New Testament. It shows us how different are God's ways from the popular ideas of people of what they think God should be like.

Why was it necessary for God to send John the Baptist to Israel before Christ? The baptizer challenged all people and made it so much more difficult for the religious experts of the day to join the crowd.

How do we reconcile Paul's statement that God desires all people to come to know Him (1 Tim. 2:4)? Didn't God want the religious class to come to know salvation in Christ? Was he trying to "get them"?

I don't think so. Christ died for all people, those who loved him and praised him and those who rejected him and hated him. So great is the love of the Lord, that he decided to die for all regardless of whether they would receive his grace or not.
God haters will be lost eternally. There is a very disturbing list in Revelation 21:8 that clearly shows there will be those who will end up in eternal damnation.

Was it a waste for Jesus to die for them?

Certainly not! God's love is not measured by "percentage of efficiency" the same way we would measure a commercial product or service.
That's why the Lord always prepares those He is sending his message to. John the Baptizer prepared people's hearts for Jesus' hard-hitting message. John challenged people to come to the water and receive a baptism they had never seen before. The Pharisees missed their opportunity to take a step of humility and prepare their hearts for what was to come.

By rejecting the baptism of John, they missed an opportunity to soften their hearts and receive God's purpose for them.

God help us to discern the times when He sends our way people or circumstances to prepare us for His voice. If we harden ourselves to those who are sent to prepare us, we'll end up rejecting His purpose for our lives. It's easier than we think.

Sounds scary?

It's true, the Gospel is not for the weak hearted.