Are You the One?
20. October 2008 by Bernice Davis.
Hello:
Our text for today is:
Matthew 11:1 “After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of
Galilee.
2 When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples
3 to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:
5 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.
6 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”
Our text today deals with John the Baptist. Jesus had begun to make a reputation for himself. He had finished his infamous “Sermon on the Mount” and had established himself as a teacher which was quite different from the existing scholars. Jesus was known as one who taught with authority. He had also been established as a miracle worker, as one who cast out demons and was gaining popularity and now he had given that same power and authority to his disciples.
If you remember from our earlier chapters in Matthew, Jesus did not begin his ministry until John the Baptist was imprisoned so the two of them never competed. When Jesus came on the scene John the Baptist said “I must decrease, so that He may increase.”
In our text John has heard of the popularity of Jesus and sends his disciples to ask him is He the one or should we expect someone else. This statement has raised much controversy in the theological realm. At the Baptism of Jesus it was witnessed by John how the heavens opened up and a voice cried out and said “this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” John was the one who told Andrew( the brother of Pete and one of the disciples of John) that Jesus was the Christ and the one that he was preparing the way for and the long awaited Messiah.
Now at this point in John’s life he appears to be unsure. Some scholars argue that it could be because John is now in prison and may have expected Jesus to do something to deliver him from the bonds of prison, others claim that John wanted to make sure before he died that he had not missed God in his claiming that Jesus was the one and other theories also exist on this matter. The text is silent concerning the answer so any answer would simply be speculation. What we are sure of is that John wanted to hear it directly from the mouth of Jesus.
Jesus responds to John’s answers not with a direct reply but to tell John the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are healed, the deaf hear, the dead is raised and the good news is being preached to the poor. Maybe Jesus was appealing to the works of God to assure John for if Jesus had just said yes without emphasizing the powerful works (that could have only been done of God), John may have still had doubts.
In other words Jesus was saying, John, everything that the scriptures said I would be doing, I am. Jesus closes this response with saying; “Blessed is the man who does not fall away because of me.” Blessed is the person that is not intimidated by the unpopularity and suffering that often comes with standing for Christ.
Tomorrow, we will see what Jesus has to say about John the Baptist and his life. It is really fascinating.
Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!
God Bless!!!!!!!!!!
Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.