Are you the one?
In Matthew 11, we read about a great question that John the Baptist poses of Jesus: "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect another?"
Why is John wondering this? He's spent his whole life preaching about the coming Messiah, warning people to repent of their sins, and turn to God. He prepared a way for this Messiah to come, he baptized this messiah, and he even lept in his mother's womb at the very mention of Jesus.
What was John expecting that Jesus was not doing? What was Jesus doing that John was not expecting? What kind of Messiah did Jesus have to be to have his own cousin wondering about his identity?
Why were Jesus' actions in the gospels so decidedly non Messiah-like, at least according to devout Jews like John the Baptist?
Why is John wondering this? He's spent his whole life preaching about the coming Messiah, warning people to repent of their sins, and turn to God. He prepared a way for this Messiah to come, he baptized this messiah, and he even lept in his mother's womb at the very mention of Jesus.
What was John expecting that Jesus was not doing? What was Jesus doing that John was not expecting? What kind of Messiah did Jesus have to be to have his own cousin wondering about his identity?
Why were Jesus' actions in the gospels so decidedly non Messiah-like, at least according to devout Jews like John the Baptist?
posted by Steve W. at 6:33 PM
3 Comments:
I'm wondering if John's doubts had nothing to do with what Jesus was doing or not doing, but the fact that he was languishing in prison because of his outspoken opposition to Herod's relationship to Herodias (Matthew 14:3-4). Maybe he was just plain scared, wondering why he was suffering, and about to die.
i believe it's a matter of survival for John at this point - that's his focus... and that's my focus too often (me, me, me).
Jesus put it best when he said, "God blesses those who do not fall away because of me" (Matthew 11:6) - essentially saying that whomever follows me & is willing to lose their life for the Kingdom will be blessed by God.
this is a quote from one of my favorite authors & speakers Erwin Mcmanus...
"God is forcefully advancing His Kingdom. To do this, God was willing to allow His own Son to be killed so that we could live. Do you think God would withhold our lives for His Kingdom to advance? Not for a moment."
Well, I definitely think the answer that's already been said is part of it, John was about to die and Jesus wasn't saving him. Also, I think that part of the reason John had doubted his Jesus was that Jesus was his cousin. It makes Jesus so... human. Jesus was a spectacular teacher, healer, prophet, and perfect liver and lover, but unequivocally human. He was found in appearance as a man, not some half-man, half-spirit or superman. With an Old Testament full of ornate prophecies about the Messiah, I think that in some ways, Jesus seemed less than expected. What was anticipated was not who Jesus was. I think John partially expected, along with many others in the Jewish community, a Savior who saved people from the external things happening to them and bringing those who trusted in Him to a political glory that exalted them above others. There's more going through my head, and I'm sure I didn't clarify anything all too well, but I've got to go grab a cup of coffee.
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