121419 – Matthew 11.
“Poor John the Baptizer” he was so VERY confused! (And of course, no one could really blame him…) John was receiving messages ABOUT Jesus albeit second and third hand stuff. But he WAS hearing about JESUS just the same…
BECAUSE John was INCARCERATED it was hard for him to know if the information he was receiving was ACCUTRATE or not.
Everyone KNEW WHAT they WANTED and what THEY EXPECTED of the “Coming Messiah.”
Some envisioned the grandeur of King David, riding a mighty steed- a war horse. Still others expected a wise-religious leader like the judges of old.
Some predicted the Messiah would enter the Holy City triumphantly on his war horse entering through the “GOLDEN GATE”…with great pomp and circumstance. And some hoped and prayed for a WARRIOR slaying thousands with his strong right ARM and uniting all Jews together as one.
He had to be MILITARISTIC, there was “no other possibility” especially in the “fevered political climate” that was the first century, when you were “an OCCUPIED people.”
He HAD TO defeat the Romans and ANY OTHER oppressors that MIGHT arise.
He would be a SAVIOR alright, a savior who would “save the people” out from under their Roman subjugation.
But from what John was HEARING, Jesus was a “different animal,” a different species, especially from what (he himself) had EXPECTED…
Jesus HAD NOT taken an ax to any trees, at least NOT YET!
He DID NOT burn any chaff with UNQUENCHABLE FIRE.
So far, he has NOT led a REVOLT, nor caused any PRISON WALLS to fall…John himself could attest to that one!
And yet the word “on the street” – was “this guy” might just be the COMING ONE.
So, John was in a quandary.
How could this be?
Something is NOT right here!
People knew WHAT they WANTED!
They KNEW what they EXPECTED…
But there were these “other reports” circulating about Jesus’ healing ministry…and that is basically what John had heard.
This Jesus was “some kind of healer,” not a king, not a rebel, not a savior, not a warrior, but an “itinerant preacher and healer”…and maybe even a miracle worker…who knows…
A Healer does NOT a MESSIAH make, or so John thought from his prison confines…
SOMETHING was NOT right!
SO he decided what he would do, he would TRY and get word to Jesus and would hopefully live long enough – to get a response…
And so what does Jesus do?
In rather lofty rhetoric he invokes or channels the Prophet Isaiah…
So, it is THE WORDS of Isaiah that Jesus sends back to John. (Isaiah you may remember is the prophet who has the infamous “Suffering Servant Passages” in it.)
“The deaf shall hear”
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened”
“The ears of the deaf shall be unstopped”
“The lame shall leap like a deer”
“You that are blind shall look up and see”
“Your dead shall live”
And “Good News will be brought to the poor and the oppressed”
And finally, “And blessed is anyone who is not scandalized BY ME” – a gentle and somewhat “self-effacing appeal” saying – NOT TO LOOK for another…I AM HE.
And now from his prison confines John was “more confused than ever.”
Just WHAT is God up to?
WHAT is this “new thing” that he is up to?
Could all the people be so wrong? Might WHAT THEY WANT – not be – WHAT GOD WANTS?
Could there be a real disconnect here?
Of course, God can do what he wants and he takes direction from NO MAN…and YES the Jewish History will bear this out…that God is FULL OF SURPRISES! (And, always has been!)
Just when you think you have GOD figured out! You do NOT! Just when you think you know WHAT he WILLS, you find out the truth…OUR GOD is full of SURPRISES! And for the record, NO ONE has the corner on him! No one!
Get ready for the ride of your life! Amen!