John Seeks a Report on Jesus: The Identity of Jesus. Luke 7:18-23.
Pastor Nam Park.
Luke 7:18 The disciples of John reported to him about all these things. 19 Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?” 20 When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?’” 21 At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind. 22 And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. 23 Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”
Expectation is a powerful tool. John is a rock of faith, so why was he in need to question Christ?
- He was perplexed.
- He was doubting. A momentary uncertainty. Struggle of wondering if his expectations of Christ were right.
Luke doesn't mention that John is currently in prison when he asks Christ this question.
Similar to the item of church discipline (step 2), two people would be brought to confront the person in the wrong. John saw the verification of Jesus as a serious matter.
Luke 7:19 Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?”
- Luke doesn't even mention that John is in jail at the moment.
- These two disciples would repeat John's question verbatim.
Luke 7:21 At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.
- These infirmities demonstrate the brokenness of this world, and our need for a savior.
- It is to God's glory that we see the healing. It is also to God's glory that we see the brokenness (the need to be healed).
Luke 7:22 And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them.
- Good news comes even to the poor.
- The poetic form was somberly sent from Jesus for the purpose of encouraging John the Baptist.
Luke 7:23 Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.
- It is the "trip-wire", the stumbling block that causes you to trip. The religious leaders were tripped and fell over... because Christ didn't "fit" into the religious leaders' mold. (The righteous were still suffering, etc.)
- When people decide to stop coming to church. They don't usually go out like rebels, they just tend to fade away, since they didn't get the expectations that they were hoping for.
- We must take Jesus for who He is.
- I wouldn't want to live in this world forever. All the horribleness of a fallen world. We want the Savior to come.
- Right after John receives this word from Christ, he gets beheaded. Thus, v.23 was written as a comfort to John. This scripture saturated man could then lay down his life gladly. He wasn't waiting for the 2nd part of the promises to occur, but was satisfied that the Messianic age was here.
Lord, help us to trust you, even in our moments of doubt.
