Larry Devich
Friday, December 22, 2006
Advent 3: Friday
Read: Luke 7:18-28
Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen
and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf
hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And
blessed is he who is not offended because of Me." (Luke 7:22-23)
“Are you the Coming One, or should we look for another?” That was what
John's disciples asked Jesus. Someone had doubts: perhaps it was John the
Baptist as he languished in prison for speaking the truth. Perhaps it was his
disciples, so John sent them to the source.
Jesus responded, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that
the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are
raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not
offended because of Me.” Why point to the miracles? Because Jesus was
pointing to the Word. Old Testament prophecies (see Isaiah 35:5-6, for example)
declared that the Messiah—the Coming One—would perform miracles.
Therefore, when people saw the Man who performed miracles and fulfilled the
rest of the Old Testament prophecies, they could be sure that they had found the
Messiah. In effect, Jesus said in His reply, “I'm the Coming One: not because I
say so, because anyone can say so. I'm the Coming One because all of Scripture
says so.” Then He added, “Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
Who would be offended at the Coming One healing people? We could put
them into two categories. There were those who heard of Jesus performing
miracles, but simply didn't believe the Word they heard and so they didn't come
and weren't healed; and there were those who saw the healings, but chose to rely
on their own power and kill the Savior on a cross. At that point, even the
disciples were offended and fled. Plenty were offended by the Savior—He had
very few supporters on Calvary.
There are a couple of important lessons we can draw from this text. Plenty
are offended by Jesus today: there are those who hear that He offers forgiveness
and eternal life, but they don't believe it. There are those who want to follow
Jesus, but they're offended by His Law and want Him to conform to their
wishes; or they're offended by His Gospel and want their works to be part of the
plan for salvation. Plenty of people are offended by Jesus and His free gifts of
life and salvation. Blessed are you that—by God-given faith—you are not
offended by the Savior.
The second is a lesson of great comfort. When Jesus performed miracles on
the way to the cross, He certainly did so to fulfill prophecy and prove He was
the Savior. In doing so, He also gave you a glimpse of heaven: for on the Last
Day, He will raise you up, fully healed, for eternity. Oh, yes: blessed are you.
Lo, the Lamb, so long expected, Comes with pardon down from heaven.
Let us haste, with tears of sorrow, One and all to be forgiven,
That, when next He comes with glory, And the world is wrapped in fear
He may shield us with His mercy And with words of love draw near.
(TLH 60:3-4) ¶ 12/22/2006 08:30:00 AM 0 Comments
Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen
and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf
hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And
blessed is he who is not offended because of Me." (Luke 7:22-23)
“Are you the Coming One, or should we look for another?” That was what
John's disciples asked Jesus. Someone had doubts: perhaps it was John the
Baptist as he languished in prison for speaking the truth. Perhaps it was his
disciples, so John sent them to the source.
Jesus responded, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that
the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are
raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not
offended because of Me.” Why point to the miracles? Because Jesus was
pointing to the Word. Old Testament prophecies (see Isaiah 35:5-6, for example)
declared that the Messiah—the Coming One—would perform miracles.
Therefore, when people saw the Man who performed miracles and fulfilled the
rest of the Old Testament prophecies, they could be sure that they had found the
Messiah. In effect, Jesus said in His reply, “I'm the Coming One: not because I
say so, because anyone can say so. I'm the Coming One because all of Scripture
says so.” Then He added, “Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
Who would be offended at the Coming One healing people? We could put
them into two categories. There were those who heard of Jesus performing
miracles, but simply didn't believe the Word they heard and so they didn't come
and weren't healed; and there were those who saw the healings, but chose to rely
on their own power and kill the Savior on a cross. At that point, even the
disciples were offended and fled. Plenty were offended by the Savior—He had
very few supporters on Calvary.
There are a couple of important lessons we can draw from this text. Plenty
are offended by Jesus today: there are those who hear that He offers forgiveness
and eternal life, but they don't believe it. There are those who want to follow
Jesus, but they're offended by His Law and want Him to conform to their
wishes; or they're offended by His Gospel and want their works to be part of the
plan for salvation. Plenty of people are offended by Jesus and His free gifts of
life and salvation. Blessed are you that—by God-given faith—you are not
offended by the Savior.
The second is a lesson of great comfort. When Jesus performed miracles on
the way to the cross, He certainly did so to fulfill prophecy and prove He was
the Savior. In doing so, He also gave you a glimpse of heaven: for on the Last
Day, He will raise you up, fully healed, for eternity. Oh, yes: blessed are you.
Lo, the Lamb, so long expected, Comes with pardon down from heaven.
Let us haste, with tears of sorrow, One and all to be forgiven,
That, when next He comes with glory, And the world is wrapped in fear
He may shield us with His mercy And with words of love draw near.
(TLH 60:3-4) ¶ 12/22/2006 08:30:00 AM 0 Comments
