Luke 7:18-23 JOHN’S CONCERNS CURED BY CHRIST

JOHN’S CONCERNS

CURED BY CHRIST

Luke 7:18-23

(See also Matthew 11:3-11)

Jesus had healed the centurion’s servant who was near death without even being in the house. Then He raised a widow’s only son from death on the way to the funeral.

Luke 7:18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.

Susie: Apparently John the Baptist was keeping tabs on the ministry of Jesus via his disciples. They reported these incidents of healing and even bringing someone back to life to John who was in prison at the time.

Luke 7:19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

Susan: John the Baptist, in prison at the time, sent two of his trusted students to inquire of Jesus whether He was the Messiah as John had proclaimed Him to be or they should continue searching for someone else. Should they begin a new quest to find the Anointed One, the Son of God?

Susie: John was not being wishy-washy or having severe doubts. Rather, the current events with himself in prison and Jesus being persecuted and doubted caused him to need confirmation from Jesus Himself. Therefore, Jesus did a demonstration of His power in the presence of John’s students (disciples).

Susan: Jesus probably realized that words alone would be inadequate to comfort or convince John the Baptist.

Luke 7:21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

Susan: At that very hour, while John’s disciples stood by observing the miraculous, Jesus delivered several people from demon possession, healed diseases, and returned sight to blind people.

Susie: Now the two disciples of John could report that they had not only heard about Jesus’s miracles but had witnessed them with their own eyes.

Luke 7:22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

Susan: Jesus told John’s disciples to give him an affirmative report that He was fulfilling Messianic prophecies by working the miracles they had seen and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Isaiah 35:5-6 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. . .

Susie: John the Baptist would recognize the Old Testament prophecies that were coming to life in the ministry of his relative, Jesus, and would be at peace that He was indeed the Messiah.

Luke 7:23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Susan: This was not a rebuke for John’s questions but rather an assurance and authentication that his belief and trust in Jesus as the Son of God brought blessing upon him despite his earthly circumstance of being imprisoned by Herod.

Ponder this and Apply it: We can take comfort in the fact that even John the Baptist, Thomas, Peter, and others sometimes had unanswered questions they could not wrap their brains around. Jesus made a point to “prove” Himself to them in various ways. We are blessed to have the written record of their struggles to comfort us in our own and testify to the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. If you are struggling with doubt, look up “Assurance” in a good study Bible and read the verses listed. Talk with someone you respect as having walked faithfully with the Lord for many years and listen to his/her counsel.