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October 12th

The bible reading today is in Matthew 11.

“Now when John the baptizer heard in prison about the “deeds of the Christ”, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11

The news of the deeds of Jesus spread far and wide. Even inside the fortress of Machaerus, east of the Dead Sea, where John the Baptist was imprisoned. John the Baptist knew that he was sent by God to bear witness to the coming Messiah, the Christ.

Earlier in our reading, we learned that John baptized Jesus in the Jordan. He also told his own disciples that Jesus was the Messiah...that he was the Lamb of God that had come to take away the sin of the world.

But now John is sending some of his friends to ask Jesus an important question: “Are you the One?” “Or do we look for another?”

Had John lost faith in Jesus? Perhaps he did for a time. Haven't we all...? But maybe he was sending friends who were struggling. Perhaps John taught them the prophecy about the works of the Messiah and then sent them to be with Jesus for a while...to hear him, but more importantly, to watch him as he lived. Then ask the questions.

“And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:4-5‬ ‭

Jesus was telling John and his friends that Isaiah’s prophesy was being fulfilled in him. He was telling them that he was the Messiah. But he was also telling them that his power would be displayed mostly in humble acts of service, meeting individual needs, and not in spectacular political deliverance, like most Jews thought the Messiah would do.

And Jesus would finish his answer to John’s friends like this... “blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:6‬ ‭

Who does the blessing belong to? One who can be left in prison. One who can be silenced in his testimony. One who can seem to be deserted by his Lord...And yet still believe and hush every doubt. And who was that?

John...the baptizer...the martyr...Jesus and his cousin...in thick and thin.

Have a great day!