{"id":1087,"date":"2020-04-05T21:45:30","date_gmt":"2020-04-05T20:45:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=1087"},"modified":"2020-04-05T21:45:31","modified_gmt":"2020-04-05T20:45:31","slug":"jesuss-message-to-john-the-baptist-luke-718-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=1087","title":{"rendered":"Jesus’s message to John the Baptist Luke 7:18-23"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we go into our third week of lockdown we are beginning to understand a little better the experiences of the heroes of faith who found themselves in isolation and even in prison. Joseph, Jeremiah and Daniel. The apostles Peter and John and Paul and John in exile on Patmos writing the Book of Revelation. We can glimpse their loneliness and even share a temptation to despair. Most of all I am reminded of John the Baptist imprisoned by Herod and the doubts and questions he wrestled with as he was waiting to be executed. We can learn from John how to cope in these very strange and troubled times.<\/p>\n

We all have doubts and questions sometimes! But very few people fall as deep into doubt as John the Baptist did! He was God\u2019s messenger, set apart from his miraculous birth to prepare the way for the Messiah. John the Baptist was the very first person to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, the one who will baptise with Holy Spirit. John was the one who lived a life of repentance, who drew close to God in fasting and silence and self-denial, who lived by the motto \u201cChrist must become more important, I must become less important.\u201d<\/p>\n

But in Luke 7 we find John the Baptist in prison, jailed for denouncing King Herod\u2019s adultery. And in his loneliness facing execution John began to have his doubts. Had he been right? Was Jesus really God born as a human being? Would Jesus really bring forgiveness of sins? Had John\u2019s message been true? Or was it all a big mistake? Had he been wrong all along? John had his doubts! So from his prison cell John sends two of his disciples with a desperate message to Jesus.
\nLuke 7:19 “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”
\nAre YOU the one? ARE you the one????<\/p>\n

We may be facing different crises this evening. Some people may even be facing seemingly hopeless problems – just as grim as John the Baptist in his prison cell. We need to hear and receive for ourselves the same answers Jesus gave to John the Baptist.<\/p>\n

Luke 7 18 John\u2019s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, \u2018Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?\u2019
\n20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, \u2018John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, \u201cAre you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?\u201d \u2019
\n21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, illnesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, \u2018Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.<\/p>\n

Notice that Jesus doesn\u2019t directly answer John the Baptist\u2019s questions. Jesus could have simply answered \u201cyes\u201d and that answer would have been true! \u201cYes, I am the Messiah, the One who is to come.\u201d \u201cYes I am indeed the Son of God, the Lamb of God as you told everybody I was.\u201d \u201cYes John, you were right!\u201d<\/p>\n

But Jesus knew how desperate John was, how low John was, how discouraged John was. Jesus knew how deep John had fallen into doubt. So a simple \u201cyes\u201d would not be sufficient. Jesus knew what John needed to hear. We say \u201cactions speak louder than words\u201d and it\u2019s true. Jesus knew that His actions would speak louder into John\u2019s discouragement and doubt. So Jesus pointed to his actions.<\/p>\n

22 So he replied to the messengers, \u2018Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.<\/p>\n

Jesus didn\u2019t perform these miracles as some kind of show so that they could be an answer for John. His miracles were NOT just to impress the crowds. Nor were they to help him become popular so he could be recognised as King. Jesus was performing all those kinds of miracles anyway continually as part of His ministry. But the miracles would answer John\u2019s questions! YES I am the one! Yes I am the Messiah! All these miracles are powerful proof that Jesus was much more than a man, he was indeed the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, the Lord of all.<\/p>\n

Jesus pointed to his miracles and then added, \u201cand the good news is preached to the poor.\u201d<\/p>\n

This was Jesus\u2019s mission. This was why God had sent Him: to bring the good news of the Kingdom, the gospel of Salvation, to the world, to the poor and weak and helpless Jesus came to proclaim the Kingdom of God, the rule of God as King to all people and especially to the poor and needy, the outcasts and the sinners. This was what Jesus had come to do!<\/p>\n

Jesus brought the good news of the Kingdom. He proclaimed the year of the Lord\u2019s favour – that the time had arrived for God to save his people. And that Good News came in WORDS: his teaching, his sermons and his parables. But the Good News also came in ACTIONS: miracles of healing and deliverance. Jesus\u2019s miracles were concrete expressions of the good news he proclaimed in words.<\/p>\n

Miracles were expressions of God\u2019s POWER \u2013 the power revealed in Creation and later in the resurrection released into lives spoilt by sin and suffering and pain \u2013 God\u2019s power released to put the world right again!<\/p>\n

And miracles were expressions of God\u2019s LOVE \u2013 love bringing forgiveness for sins, life instead of death, healing for broken-ness.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why the miracles answered John\u2019s questions and doubts. Jesus must be the One. Only the One who is to come, only the Messiah, only God\u2019s Son could preach good news to the poor in words AND in actions, in love AND in power. Only God\u2019s Son could bring the Kingly reign of God into the world.
\nJesus\u2019s message to us is the same as his answer to John the Baptist. That same power of God is still at work today \u2013 for us! That same love of God is still there today \u2013 for us! Jesus is the one!!<\/p>\n

The blind receive sight, like blind BARTIMAEUS \u2013 your faith has made you well<\/p>\n

the lame walk, – like the paralysed man lowered through the roof. Your sins are forgiven \u2013 take up your bed and walk,<\/p>\n

those who have leprosy are cured \u2013 we thought about one of those stories a few weeks ago \u2013 ten were healed \u2013 only one came back to say thank you. It is so important to be thankful for all God\u2019s blessings to us.<\/p>\n

the deaf hear,<\/p>\n

and the dead are even raised back to life again, like Lazarus. Remember Jesus\u2019s words.<\/p>\n

John 11:25 Jesus said to MARY, \u201cI am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?\u201d
\n27 \u201cYes, Lord,\u201d she told him, \u201cI believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.\u201d
\nWhen we see the miracles of Christ, they help us to believe that Jesus is indeed the Messiah and the Son of God.<\/p>\n

and the good news is preached to the poor \u2013 Jesus brings Good News of God\u2019s salvation to those who are physically materially poor and equally to those who recognise that they are Spiritually poor! Anybody in need.<\/p>\n

Jesus\u2019s message to us is the same as his answer to John the Baptist. That same power of God is still at work today \u2013 for us! That same love of God is still there today \u2013 for us! Jesus is the one!! The one who can help US \u2013 we only have to ask!! The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.<\/p>\n

Luke 7:23 \u201cBlessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”
\n\u201c How happy are those who have no doubts about me!\u201d (GNB)<\/p>\n

You might like to listen to Adrian Snell \u2013 “Song for John” from his first album Fireflake<\/p>\n

PRAY FOR EACH OTHER IN THE SITUATIONS WE FACE<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As we go into our third week of lockdown we are beginning to understand a little better the experiences of the heroes of faith…<\/span><\/p>\n

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