Knowing The Word in Luke 7:18-23

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John’s Disciples Make a Report

7:18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John,19 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?” 20 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?’” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 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. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Comments

John the baptizer had been in prison for all this time, expecting that Jesus would do something spectacular—perhaps a prison break? He sent men to investigate and perhaps to encourage some bold action on the part of Jesus. Why does Jesus not rescue John who has put his life on the line for the sake of the gospel? As John the baptizer said in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John the baptizer’s purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus; it was not to have a competing or even complementary ministry.

Even though he had heard clearly from God about Jesus, John, like all humans, still had questions. He wondered if Jesus truly was the Messiah. John’s disciples, according to Jesus, did not need a verbal response. Jesus had already given them the answer by miracles performed in their presence. The Old Testament prophetic references Jesus quoted showed he was indeed the Messiah. Jesus worked in line with the word of God. The truth of Jesus fulfilling Messianic expectations and divine predictions in his ministry, however, was not understood by all, even when they saw it with their own eyes.

Application

What are your thoughts about Jesus not rescuing John? Does God seem callous or is there something greater going on? There is something greater going on as God works out his purposes. Sometimes, however, they are hard to wrap out heads and hearts around. Perhaps there is something going on in your life that you are having a hard time understanding. I encourage you to turn to the Lord in prayer.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, sometimes your ways make little sense to me, but I know you are a good and great God, the God above all gods. Help me to be still right now and know that you are God. I will be quiet, now, in your presence as you minister to me through your Spirit, reassuring me and blessing me for Jesus’s sake.