Read Matthew 11: 2-6 The Hebrew people had been waiting for the Messiah for hundreds of years. Since the time of the Babylonian exile, they had been longing for a mighty descendant of King David to take back the throne and rule in justice with Gods blessing. What they got was an itinerant preacher of humble birth who showed little interest in politics. No wonder John questioned if Jesus was really the Messiah! Jesus wasnt following the expected agenda. Jesus answered Johns doubts by quoting Isaiah 35: 5-6, which described the healing signs of the Messiah. Tell John, Jesus instructed, that I am fulfilling the prophecies. Those prophecies were not about political intrigue or human power struggles, but about the Messiah transforming people into whole citizens of Gods kingdom. John was comparing Jesus to his idea of the Messiah, but Jesus didnt fit the mold. Instead, Jesus transformed the concept of Messiah. He came not to rule an earthly kingdom, but to introduce Gods heavenly kingdom. Jesus final word was to bless those who didnt stumble over the accepted vision of the Messiah, but were able to see past the desire for a king for Israel and envision a king who ruled the cosmos through Gods transformative power. They could see past their expectations and recognize the Christ. Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me recognize you and your work instead of seeking to have my expectation met. Amen.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 18:49:18 +0000
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