Matthew 11:1-6

Matthew 11:1-6

And it became that when Jesus completed with giving instruction to His twelve disciples He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.  And after John heard in prison about the works of Christ and after send his disciples, he said to Him, “Are you the one who comes or do we anticipate another?”  And while Jesus replied He said to them, “After being departed, inform John what you all hear and see.  The blind regain sight and the lame walk around, lepers are being made clean and the deaf hear, and the dead are being raised and the poor are being proclaimed about the Good News.  And blessed are the ones who should not be offended in me.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Notice something very interesting in this passage.  Jesus doesn’t answer John’s inquiry directly.  John asks if he is the Messiah for which they are waiting.  Jesus doesn’t say “yes” or “no.”  Rather, Jesus tells John’s disciples about what is happening.  I believe that this is a very subtle but important point.  Even for John – the one who prepared the way for Christ to come – he had to come to faith.  John had to see, hear, listen, and think.  Then he had to decide for himself.  He had to either embrace faith or not embrace it.  It is no different for John than it is for us.  We can read about what Jesus did, hear what Jesus did, listen to what God is doing in people around us, and then make up our mind regarding whether salvation is found in Jesus and if we wish to place our faith in it.  There is no “proof” beyond the testimony of God’s Word.  There is no magic inscription that can guarantee anything.  It is a matter of faith that is influenced by what we make of the observations of God’s hand at work around us.

Do you believe?  Why?  What leads you to faith?

Second Thought:

I am also comforted by John’s doubt.  The only way that John sends his disciples to Jesus to ask this question is if he’s not sure.  Maybe he’s impatient.  Maybe life hasn’t worked out quite the same as he had hoped.  Maybe he’s frustrated at being in jail while the leaders of the world seem to get away with all kinds of sinful behavior.  The point is, even John the Baptizer had his moments of doubt.  He’s human, just like the rest of us.  If John can doubt, then it makes sense for me to expect that I will have my moments of questioning and doubt, too.  It is part of being human and wrestling with the idea of faith.

When are you most likely to doubt?  How much do you think John’s state of being imprisoned is affecting his doubt?  Why might this be true?

Third Thought:

I love the simple brilliance in Jesus’ reply.  Jesus doesn’t say to John’s disciples, “Here’s my theological treatise.  If you just say this, it’ll prove my understanding is right.”  Rather, Jesus says, “Go tell John what I’m doing.”  Words are cheap.  Words are also easily misunderstood.  Words are twisted and conflated.  Words are misquoted and misread.  But it is hard to look someone who is feeding the poor in the face and deny the compassion within.  It is hard to look at the person caring for widows and orphans and accuse them of being against God.  Words can be argued and debated and nuanced.  Actions always speak louder than words.

What are the actions of your faith?  Where is there need in your life that you can help?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 11:7-15