Jesus did not play games, unlike many of the religious people who crowded around Him.  Asking the rhetorical question, ‘What do I think that this generation is like?’ Jesus got their attention.  He then told them the answer.  It was not flattering!  He said that they were just like children playing games.  It looked to Him as if they were playing 'weddings and funerals' and trying to get others to join in.  However, neither John the Baptist nor Jesus would be sucked into their world of make-believe.  John was too serious for them and Jesus was too joyful.  

Their criticism was like the childish habit of excluding those who are different from their game.  Despite the ordinary people loving John the Baptist’s preaching, including his demand that they repent of sin before being baptised, the official religious policy toward him was that he was demonised.  Jesus loved those who were despised, showed His care to corrupt and immoral people and brought joy to their lives.  But He was branded as a man who could not control his appetites.  Meanwhile the religious establishment were playing power games over each other and especially over the people.  They had political ambitions too; they admitted the need to get rid of Jesus was to keep their own hold on power (John 11:48).

The herald (John the Baptist) and the King (Jesus) had no need to play games or make themselves popular.  Their value did not lie in what people thought of them, but in God's approval ... and they knew it (John 6:27).  The only people to lose out were those who refused to accept the messages of repentance and salvation - freely given by God's grace (John 3:36).  It was not the popular vote which would determine the legacy of John and of Jesus; that would be clearly seen in the changed lives of those who believed John's message of repentance and trusted Jesus for salvation.

It is the same today.  The wonderful news is that there is no game to play when it comes to Jesus.  He is not looking for people who can keep an elaborate set of rules, because nobody can (Romans 3:23), but for sinners to confess their guilty secrets and receive forgiveness and love.  This message is not tied to any culture or point in history; it is timeless and world-wide.  Those who know it is for real are the people who have accepted the message and received the Saviour. They are the proof of the truth (Psalm 34:8). So do not be distracted from Jesus by the criticism of others who think it is all a game; when you know Jesus, you know you are accepted for eternity.