The Messiah that has Come

The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ ” In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me” (Luke 7:18-23).

John questioned Jesus' Messiahship. His time was running out. He would be tried and executed soon. Jesus had said nothing about the Day of the Lord, the Messianic fire of judgment, cities falling or sinners being judged. John heard nothing about Jesus raising a great army. Jesus was not plotting the strategy to free Israel from Roman domination and to set up the Kingdom of God. The answer Jesus sent back to John was a totally unexpected concept of Messiahship. It is God's idea of Messiahship, radically different from man's idea. In word and deed, Jesus Christ proclaimed and demonstrated a gospel of salvation and God's love and care for people. As we, His obedient disciples fulfill the Great Commission, His gospel will continue to be both a blessing and an offense because He truly was and is the Messiah that has come.

Jesus’ ministry provokes inquiry. John’s expression of doubt does not surprise maturing disciples. As we proceed through this inhospitable world on our way to Heaven we have all encountered trials and circumstances that generate doubt in our hearts. We grow in the truth of God’s Word and we develop expectations about how we believe He should answer our prayers, but He often has another agenda… “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Often we think deliverance is our greatest need, but God instead is working to sharpen our faith… “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4). Too often our eyes are on self and not seeing Christ’s glory revealed through our maturing faith… “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7). When doubts arise maturing disciples learn to go right to Jesus, who will always provide a faith-building answer… “Everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:8).

Jesus’ ministry proves His Messiahship. Jesus responded to John’s inquiry with action that confirmed and defined His Messiahship… “ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isaiah 61:1). As we are faithful to obey His command, Christ will do the same today… “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation… And these signs will accompany those who believe…” (Mark 16:15-18).

Jesus’ ministry produces blessing and offense. The gospel confronts our heart with the truth that all are sinners… “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The gospel insists that forgiveness is only available to those who trust in Jesus Christ… “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Confrontation with such profound truth provokes the heart. There will either be blessing for those who believe or offense for those who reject the clearly presented truth of the gospel… “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36).

As we grow up into Christ and fulfill the Great Commission, our ministry will reveal Jesus Christ…

The Messiah that has come.