Him? Luke 7:18-27
Today I want to look at another episode that happens fairly early in Jesus ministry.
For years we used to get the “Reader’s Digest” and I remember reading in one of their humor sections this story. A lady was looking for the perfect birthday card for her husband. She spent days looking until she found this one. On the front it said “Sweetheart. You are the answer to my prayers.” On the inside it said, “You’re not what I prayed for exactly, but apparently you’re the answer.”
In a way today’s reading expresses this sentiment. John was the one God sent to prepare the way for the Messiah’s coming. He led his ministry from the wilderness by the Jordan River. He spoke powerful words about the need for people to repent from sin. We’re told John didn’t sugar coat things; he was direct, abrasive and at times outright mean. And let’s not forget to mention the wild hair, strange cloths and he ate locusts. I’ve got to tell you, my prayers might start off with, “God, can you please have someone build a McDonald’s near here.”
John had become a celebrity. Poor, rich, religious novice or leader; they all came to hear him, and he never wavered in his message, always he prepared the people and the nation for the Messiah’s coming.
Matthew 3:11, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am unworthy to carry.” And then the day came, the magnificent day that Jesus came to see John by the river.
And after a brief meeting of the two, they went their separate ways. John continued as he had been; and Jesus, he took a different approach. John stayed in the wilderness eating bugs; Jesus was changing water into wine. John screamed at sinners while Jesus ate with them. John preached God’s wrath and Jesus was teaching love one another. I’m sure John noticed the differences.
John went on to attack King Herod and his wife. He’s arrested and put into prison, and he has lots of time on his hands, time to think. John, he was a man of his times. He was probably looking for a Messiah that would shake the country to its core, someone who would challenge Rome, someone who would overthrow Caesar and Herod.
John was being told of miracles performed by Jesus but no revolution. We prayed for the Messiah to come; Jesus, you’re not what we prayed for exactly, but apparently you’re the answer.
John wants to be sure about Jesus so he sends some of his followers to ask. Verse 3, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
They want to know but Jesus doesn’t just give them a simple “yes.” Verse 4, “Go and report to John what you hear and see.”
John is Jesus cousin; he spent his entire life knowing Jesus. In Luke 1 verse 43 John’s mother Elizabeth calls Mary “…the mother of my Lord…” I’m sure Elizabeth told John who Jesus is so why does he question it now?
John is representing mankind. Today most people in the world have heard about Jesus, about who he is and what he’s done, and yet there are millions who doubt that truth, why? Because hearing is not enough. We are creatures that live out the saying, “seeing is believing.” Jesus knows this so instead of telling these men a simple yes he tells John’s disciples to see; Verse 5, “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleaned, the deaf hear, the dead are raised…”
These men needed to see, and today it’s not different. People want to and need to “see.” Today men see the good works done in Jesus name, see the compassion in the hearts of his followers, see the forgiveness offered by those who call him Savior, see the love and charity freely given by those who made him Lord of their life.
We are told to have faith, but we do not have a blind faith. I have faith in my wife because of the way she is with me; I have faith in our first responders because I see them put others ahead of their own safety. The Merriam dictionary defines faith as an “allegiance to duty or to a person.” I have faith in Jesus because I see his work in the hearts and lives of men.
As Jesus addresses the crowd he asks them what they went to the wilderness to see; a reed in the wind, a man in fine cloths or perhaps a prophet.
When people look to find God what are they looking for? Many look for what’s missing in their lives, maybe a sense of accomplishment or a feeling of belonging. Unfortunately a good many don’t see God in the big picture, because what they want is just something to make them feel good.
I feel better with God in my life, true; but God is about our salvation not if I’m having a good day. God is in us when things are going good and when they are not. Too many people turn away from their faith when things are in turmoil because they start to believe that God turned away or left them.
Others seek God because they want “something.” They want to be blessed with success and wealth. God certainly blesses those who seek him out but it may not be with wealth and power. I see pastors on TV who preach that if you just believe enough or if you have enough faith God will give you a new job, a bigger house or more money. If you’re seeking God simply to improve your social or economic standing you may find yourself disappointed. And don’t forget many people who don’t give God the time of day are wealthy and influential.
We also can’t seek God in the wrong places, remember he came to a dusty manger because that is where we needed him most. Matthew 9 says, “It is not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick.” I don’t want to say you can’t find God in a grand cathedral, he’s there, but I believe to feel God the closest you need to look in the dirty places. Seek God with the poor and the destitute, the diseased and the desperate. Seek God among those that want and need.
Verse 6, “Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” I believe men can stumble over Jesus when they seek him out in the bright places, because when you go places where everything is fine and want is absent you cannot do work in his name. When you seek Jesus in the dusty places; it’s there that the need is great and your work is a blessing.
A man with one piece of bread who shares it with someone who is hungry and has none is more blessed than a rich man who gives a banquet for the poor. The banquet is a blessing but how much of himself did he give up? How much of his bounty did the rich man forfeit compared to the man who gave away a portion of the only piece of bread that he had?
Jesus is not blessed because he came to earth and demanded riches and glory, Jesus is glorified because he came to a dusty manger and gave up his life for us.
“Are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else?”
If John’s disciples didn’t get the answer they wanted they were ready to dismiss Jesus and go follow someone else. To many people look to God only when things are going wrong and when those circumstances don’t instantly change they dismiss him and look for gratification elsewhere.
Luke 22:42 “…not my will, but yours be done.” God always has our best interest at heart but things happen according to his time table, not ours.
When you look for Jesus look around you with open eyes and an open heart. To find him, look for his work; the blind who can see, the lame who can walk; the poor who have hope, the imprisoned who are at peace, the troubled who find solace, the lost who find God.
John was the messenger, he told all who would listen about God and the Messiah’s coming. You, me, all of us; we are the new John. It is us who must now go out and be Jesus messenger. It is us who must tell others about God and the salvation offered through Jesus. And praise God we don’t have to eat locust to do it.
God bless you.