John was in prison and needed to know if Jesus was really the person promised by God as the Messiah. I’m sure that he knew Jesus as hi cousin, but I wonder if he knew him as the Messiah. I’m sure that after baptizing Jesus he had to be convinced that Jesus was truly the One. Perhaps being in jail and hearing stories of things going on outside of the prison had John a little unsettled. So he sent his disciples to interview Jesus directly and bring word back to him. They interviewed Jesus and brought the report back to John which is our text for today in the book of Luke.
But I often wonder what it would have been like if Jesus had been born in modern times. Instead of being interviewed by John’s Disciples what if He had been interviewed by a Muslim or Someone not Christian. Today at the click of a button, we can see things that are happening around the world. Things would be a little different. One good or bad story can make you or break you as a reporter. Whether you are a news anchor or radio or newspaper or magazine or internet reporter. News travels fast and bad news travels faster than good news can keep up with. I can imagine that some rumors had spread around Jerusalem. One bad rumor can mess up your life. They did not have the modern technology that we have today, but word somehow got from house to house, neighborhood to neighborhood, city to city even country to country.
I can imagine the TV and newspaper reporters covering the scene in and around Jerusalem. I imagine that there was a reporter name Abdullah who worked for the Samaritan Times who was on his way to Jerusalem to interview Jesus. Abdullah was not a Christian but had heard about this man named Jesus turning the Eastern world upside down and his company asked him to go to Jerusalem and find out who this Jesus is. Abdullah had objected to this assignment because he did not believe in the claims of Jesus nor The Christian Faith. He had asked his boss if someone else could take this assignment. He did not prevail and had to make the journey anyway. The journey took him by bus and he even had to ride a camel to complete his journey. But on his way they had to make some stops before getting to Jerusalem and he met a woman and he asked her do you know a man named Jesus? She said yes I know the man. I met Him at a well. He told me everything that I ever did and gave me some water that keeps springing up into my soul. This water that He gave me makes me want to shout halleluiah, and tell everybody about this man Jesus. I once was lost but now I am found. So Abdullah the reporter asked her what else you can tell me. She said if you are going into Jerusalem, I think you ought to talk to Him for yourself. Abdullah said to himself, if I can just get an interview with this Jesus. I believe this is a good story. So He went on and had to make another stop. There he saw a man standing on the corner and he asked Him do you know Jesus? The man said yes, but when I met Him I was blind. In fact I was born blind: you can ask my parents and the whole community. But this Jesus asked me did I want to see and I said yes Lord. And He spat on the ground, made me some eyes and put them in the socket and told me to go and wash myself and now I can see. I once was blind but now I see. Abdullah the reporter said what else can you tell me about this Jesus? The man said, I think you need to talk to Him for yourself He’s in or near Jerusalem. So they traveled on and made another stop before getting to Jerusalem and he met another man. So he asked the man, do you know Jesus? The man said yes, my whole family knows this man and we are his friends. You see, one day I got sick and my family thought for sure that Jesus our friend would heal me. You see He had healed many people before me. But He did not heal me. In fact he let me die but after 4 days, He came to my grave and spoke to me told me to get back in my body. He raised me from the dead and the religious rulers are mad at Him to this day, because everybody is starting to believe on Him. Abdullah said to himself, this is hard to believe. They continued the journey. He and his crew they made it to outside of Jerusalem and a little boy stopped them and offered them some food. Abdullah said little boy if you give us your food, what will you have to eat. The boy said I do not worry about food since I met Jesus. You see, I saw him take my lunch and feed 15000 people with it. Abdullah said that must have been a big lunch. The boy responded it was only a happy meal (2 fish and 5 loaves of bread) and there was food left over. Abdullah stunned at what the boy had said and thinking to himself, surely this little boy is making up things.
Finally Abdullah made it to Jerusalem. As they entered the city he heard a crowd of people gathered around and lots of commotions going on and He ask the people what was going and they said, Its Jesus the Messiah and He just finished whipping the money changers out of the temple, but if you hurry up you can catch Him before He leaves. So Abdullah the reporter, caught up with Jesus and said Sir may I speak with you. Jesus said speak on man. Abdullah said when I did my research; it said that the Messiah may actually be in Jerusalem, The one who the Hebrew prophets spoke of, who would be king of the throne of David, who would change the whole world and suffer and be born of a virgin and be called the Son of God. Are you the one or should we look for another? Jesus said I’ve heard that Question before. My cousin John the Baptist who is now in prison sent his disciples to ask me the same question. I will tell you like I told him; BLIND people RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk He told the lame man rise up take up your bed and walk, the lepers are cleansed Ten were cleansed but only one came back and said thank you, and the deaf hear and the dumb speak, the dead are raised up, the (F) POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. Many other things did Jesus tell Abdullah and he wrote until he could not write anymore. Abdullah asked questions Jesus one more Question; He said where are you going now. Jesus said look in the malls man, it is Easter season and I must be about my Father’s business. He told Abdullah that he had a mission to save the world.
So Abdullah the reporter went back to Samaria and he wrote an article about the people he met and spoke with and his interview with Jesus. So Abdullah’s boss asked Him, do you really think this man is the Messiah? Abdullah said I do not know if He is the Messiah but when He spoke, no man ever touched my heart as He did. Before I felt dead but know I am alive, I was blind to things of God but know I see, I was thirsty for spiritual life and he filled me up. Boss, all I can say is get to know him for yourself.
Abdullah wrote an article in the Samaritan Times. The title was called an Interview with Jesus. He told of how Jesus had changed his life forever through the power of His words. Many in Samaria read the article. Some became curious about Jesus and some even believed on Him and were saved. The article stirred up controversy in Samaria and many stopped buying the Samaritan Times. Later on, Abdullah told his boss, when I left Jerusalem, He was on his way to be tried for a crime that he did not commit. The people were talking about crucifying Him. I investigated what they said about Him. It was all false. The man is perfect. They do not realize who it is that is among them. If they really knew, they would not crucify Him but fall down and worship.
3 days later he got a called from the woman at the well she told Abdullah, they crucified Jesus on the evening that you left town. So Abdullah’s boss sent him to Jerusalem. When he got there Jesus had already been crucified it was the third day that Jesus had been buried. Abdullah checked into the hotel. He looked out the window and saw a crowd of people gaithered in the square. He became curious and went outside. He overheard someone in the crowd say that Jesus body was missing from the grave. It was a woman named Mary. He said, woman are you sure? She said yes, He is risen and 2 angels told me that He was no longer dead. How many of you know today, That He is raised. Christ is no longer in the grave. He got up with all power in heaven and earth in His hands you do not have to take anybody's word for it. You can get to know the man for yourself. He is a savior a healer, a heart regulator He can fix up your mind and save your soul form sin. You do not have to interview, just call on His name and He will be there. We celebrate this day because He resurrected from the grave. A man that conquered death. If you do not know, one day you are going to need Him. Get to know Him for yourself.
Do you really know Jesus today? If you did you would worship Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lord. He is the One; we do not have to look for another.
I do not need Abdullah to speak for me, I know Him for myself. He changed my life. He turned my life around and placed my feet on solid ground and He supplies my every need. He keeps on blessing me over and over again. Get to know Him for yourself. Have a talk with Jesus and He will make everything right. I never would have made it without Him. I’m stronger, I wiser, I’m better, much better. I have not finished the race but I have come this far by faith leaning on Jesus trusting in his Holy Word. He’s never failed me yet. If Jesus were living into today’s time instead back then, how many of us would believe on His name?
So I say to you today, ______ if you don’t know the man, get to know Him for Yourself. You do not have to interview Jesus; just call upon His name. You can call on Him in the midnight hour. His line is never busy. He will save you from your sins. He said whoever calls on me shall be saved.
He will answer? He may not come when want but He is always on time. It does not matter if you are young or old rich or poor. He’s able to save your soul. He came to give His life for the sins of the world.
Let us Pray ---Our Father who art in heaven hallowed by thy name.
