Day 30

Luke 7:18–23 (NIV)

¹⁸ John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, ¹⁹ he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” ²⁰ When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’ ” ²¹ At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. ²² So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: 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. ²³ Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

Is it wrong to doubt?

Why would John the Baptist have questions about Jesus being the Christ?

How does what Jesus is doing show that he is the Christ?

Notes

Remember John the Baptist is in prison (Luke 3:20) and he is in prison for calling out the ruler of the territory for the sin he had done (Luke 3:19-20). Did John think Jesus should be doing the same type of things? did he think Jesus would politically challenge the government? Jesus has challenged the religious establishment just as John did (Luke 3:7 compared to Jesus and the Pharisees) I think John was expecting more of a building of a new nation under a new King, A king who would rule forever starting now. A king who would bring both spiritual and political change. John perhaps was expecting more of the judgment of God not only to be pronounced but also carried out (Luke 3:15-17) It is clear by John sending the messengers to Jesus with this question even after hearing of Jesus' teaching and miracles that he was expecting more.

I do not see it as John abandoning Jesus as much as trying match John's expectations with the reality of How Jesus was acting. Don't I sometimes struggle with the same issue.? What God is doing doesn't meet my expectation. So naturally the question has to be asked in order to find the answer. To reconcile my view with God's view and work.

sends 2 messengers.- 2 witnesses would validate that the question was truly from John and would also guarantee Jesus' answer would be told correctly

vs 21 - 22 the answer

Jesus tells the messengers to tell John what they see. (he happens to be healing people at the time) Notice how what Jesus tells them matches very well with Luke 4:18-19 where Jesus announces His purpose as prophesied in Isa 61:1-2. Also reference to Isa 35:5 Jesus in essence telling John I am being true to my call. Reaffirming to John he is the one.

vs 23- Jesus also blesses those who accept Jesus for who He is, not what they think that Jesus should be. Jesus reminding John and us that He knows what He is doing even when it doesn't match what we think He should do. The blessing is for those who develop faith through questioning rather than turning away.

Question is it wrong to doubt? Jesus is not attacking the questioning. But He is in a dialogue so to speak with john. Helping John to see what the Christ would be. Jesus saying look at what I do, while it may challenge you be open to explore that God is doing it a new way. (Think back to the new wine in old wineskins in Luke 5:36-38.)

Throughout the Bible we see the questioning of God, from Job to Psalms 10:1 and 13:1. Honest questioning is fine. The key is to turn to God for the answers and accept by faith (backed by what God shows) what we find.