Are You He That Should Come?

ARE YOU HE THAT SHOULD COME?

Luke 7:18-23.

As the rumours about Jesus spread throughout Judaea, and beyond (cf. Luke 7:17), “the disciples of John showed him all these things” (LUKE 7:18). John sent them back with a question for Jesus:

“Are You He that should come, or look we for another?” (LUKE 7:19-20).

We do not know for sure why John the Baptist sent two of his disciples to speak with Jesus. Perhaps prison had knocked the wind out of his sails, and he wanted some reassurance that it had not all been in vain. Or perhaps it was for the benefit of the disciples themselves.

John had been faithful in his ministry, and always pointed away from himself to the One who should come. Now He was come, John’s ministry was drawing towards its completion. The time was drawing nigh when ‘Elijah’ (cf. Matthew 11:14) must lay down his mantle.

Certainly, Jesus’ answer would be an encouragement to both John and his disciples. Decide for yourself whether the fulfilment of prophecy at the hand of Jesus was adequate evidence to say, Yes, He is the One. Compare LUKE 7:21-22 with Isaiah 35:5-6; Isaiah 61:1.

John had been an outspoken witness to Jesus, the Lamb of God (cf. John 1:29), whose shoes he was not worthy to untie (cf. Luke 3:16). Now Jesus asked John’s disciples to witness for themselves: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up - and along with these miracles there is one other: “the poor have the gospel preached to them” (LUKE 7:22). Jesus reminded John, and his disciples, of the blessedness of “whosoever shall not be offended in me” (LUKE 7:23).