Reading
SAA Notes
John has a moment of deep doubt. Jesus deals very compassionately with John and honours him before His disciples. John’s message of repentance is the basis of Jesus denunciation of these three favoured cities. If we listen to Jesus’ messenger, we will listen to Jesus.
SJA Notes
* Dear God, please teach us today from Your word, we would listen and obey.
“Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.”
Jesus pointed John to the evidence of what He had done.
We see here the practical outworking of Jesus as MESSIAH, as LORD and KING and CREATOR/SUSTAINER.
That Jesus could change the molecular structure of liquids.
That Jesus could push back and remove death and broken things in our biology.
That Jesus could enforce His will on spiritual entities who would tear and destroy as they inhabited people.
That Jesus with His word could quiet and calm the fiercest of rain and wind and storm.
“And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
We saw in yesterday’s reading that Jesus has come to bring a sword, His word (God’s word) – Cutting between bone and marrow, to the very heart of a person.
God’s word can cause offense in us OR it can be the water of life.
Blessed is the one who, instead of offense, takes to Jesus like dry parched land to the rain.
Jesus gives life, brings life – He is life!
* Wonderful Father God,
Please humble us, continue to scrape out our sin and refine us Lord God, making us more like Jesus today.
May repentance and belief be our markers as we walk through this life.
Amen.