Luke 7:18–23
In that hour He healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind He bestowed sight. – Luke 7:21
Click to read the passage
John the Baptist was an important prophet. He spoke boldly and directly, challenging the authority and moral failure of Herod Antipas by publicly rebuking him for taking his brother’s wife, Herodias, and for this, he was thrown into prison. John was the forerunner of Jesus, preaching a message of repentance to prepare the way for the coming of Christ. He baptised Jesus and bore witness that Jesus is “the Lamb of God.” Yet even such a faithful servant of God experienced moments of doubt. Luke records: “John called two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” (vv. 18b–19).
The passage begins by referring to “all these things” (v. 18). This points back to two earlier events: Jesus raising the widow’s son at Nain (vv. 11–17) and healing the centurion’s servant (vv. 1–10). Through these two miracles, Jesus revealed the saving power of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God had already come near. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, actively seeks out sinners who are spiritually dead, calling us to “pass from death to life” (John 5:24). This is a spiritual transformation, a release from the power of sin and the penalty of death, and the gift of eternal life in God’s presence.
When John asked, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” he was, in effect, asking, “Are you really the Christ?” Clearly, John already knew that Jesus was the Son of God (John 1:34). His question was not about Jesus’ identity, but about Jesus’ way of working, which puzzled him.
John had been waiting for the manifestation of God’s kingdom. Yet when he heard about the miracles Jesus was performing, he became impatient. By that time, Jesus had been ministering for over a year, and John wondered, “When will he clear his threshing floor and burn up the chaff?” (Luke 3:17). John knew that the Messiah would bring judgment and cleansing. However, his understanding of the fullness of God’s redemptive plan, the mystery of the incarnation, suffering, death, and resurrection, was incomplete. From prison, in the midst of doubt, he sought clarification. This shows that he did not yet fully grasp the complete mystery of Christ’s kingdom and the way it would be established. Jesus’ response was: “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.”
While John’s disciples waited, Jesus continued His work: “In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight” (v. 21). Jesus’ works themselves were the best answer to John. John did not need further explanations, only the assurance that Jesus is indeed the Christ, for what Jesus was doing was precisely the mission of the Messiah foretold by the prophet Isaiah.
From a human perspective, Jesus’ ministry seemed unplanned and unconcerned with timelines or methods. His way of working confused John the Baptist, and often confuses us who follow Him today. During this season of Advent, we are reminded once again to wait attentively for the Lord’s return, even as we celebrate the coming of Jesus at Christmas. May the Lord help us to understand His ways and trust His purposes.
Reflection:
Jesus’ words are deeply searching: “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me” (v. 23). Do we also become confused, complain, or even stumble when God’s work does not meet our expectations? We cannot measure Christ’s ways by worldly wisdom. If we try to do the Lord’s work using the world’s methods, we will not gain God’s approval.
Prayer:
Dear Abba Father, I thank You for Your servant John the Baptist, for his upright, courageous, and transparent life. Though he did not fully understand Your ways and experienced moments of doubt, You did not rebuke or abandon him. Thank You for guiding and helping me in the same way. Please guard my thoughts and steps, and help me to follow the Lord Jesus Christ closely all my life, that I may be a vessel fit for Your use. I pray in the victorious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Click to read the passage
John the Baptist was an important prophet. He spoke boldly and directly, challenging the authority and moral failure of Herod Antipas by publicly rebuking him for taking his brother’s wife, Herodias, and for this, he was thrown into prison. John was the forerunner of Jesus, preaching a message of repentance to prepare the way for the coming of Christ. He baptised Jesus and bore witness that Jesus is “the Lamb of God.” Yet even such a faithful servant of God experienced moments of doubt. Luke records: “John called two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” (vv. 18b–19).
The passage begins by referring to “all these things” (v. 18). This points back to two earlier events: Jesus raising the widow’s son at Nain (vv. 11–17) and healing the centurion’s servant (vv. 1–10). Through these two miracles, Jesus revealed the saving power of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God had already come near. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, actively seeks out sinners who are spiritually dead, calling us to “pass from death to life” (John 5:24). This is a spiritual transformation, a release from the power of sin and the penalty of death, and the gift of eternal life in God’s presence.
When John asked, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” he was, in effect, asking, “Are you really the Christ?” Clearly, John already knew that Jesus was the Son of God (John 1:34). His question was not about Jesus’ identity, but about Jesus’ way of working, which puzzled him.
John had been waiting for the manifestation of God’s kingdom. Yet when he heard about the miracles Jesus was performing, he became impatient. By that time, Jesus had been ministering for over a year, and John wondered, “When will he clear his threshing floor and burn up the chaff?” (Luke 3:17). John knew that the Messiah would bring judgment and cleansing. However, his understanding of the fullness of God’s redemptive plan, the mystery of the incarnation, suffering, death, and resurrection, was incomplete. From prison, in the midst of doubt, he sought clarification. This shows that he did not yet fully grasp the complete mystery of Christ’s kingdom and the way it would be established. Jesus’ response was: “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.”
While John’s disciples waited, Jesus continued His work: “In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight” (v. 21). Jesus’ works themselves were the best answer to John. John did not need further explanations, only the assurance that Jesus is indeed the Christ, for what Jesus was doing was precisely the mission of the Messiah foretold by the prophet Isaiah.
From a human perspective, Jesus’ ministry seemed unplanned and unconcerned with timelines or methods. His way of working confused John the Baptist, and often confuses us who follow Him today. During this season of Advent, we are reminded once again to wait attentively for the Lord’s return, even as we celebrate the coming of Jesus at Christmas. May the Lord help us to understand His ways and trust His purposes.
Reflection:
Jesus’ words are deeply searching: “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me” (v. 23). Do we also become confused, complain, or even stumble when God’s work does not meet our expectations? We cannot measure Christ’s ways by worldly wisdom. If we try to do the Lord’s work using the world’s methods, we will not gain God’s approval.
Prayer:
Dear Abba Father, I thank You for Your servant John the Baptist, for his upright, courageous, and transparent life. Though he did not fully understand Your ways and experienced moments of doubt, You did not rebuke or abandon him. Thank You for guiding and helping me in the same way. Please guard my thoughts and steps, and help me to follow the Lord Jesus Christ closely all my life, that I may be a vessel fit for Your use. I pray in the victorious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.