Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk.com.
In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"
Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:
" 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
Matthew 11:1-11
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Are you a Christian? I mean, are you really a Christian?
Why do I ask?
Because I’m afraid that a lot of people who claim to be Christians suffer from an identity crisis. They say they are associated with Christ but their actions say otherwise…to include the discussions they have with others. Unfortunately, many of those discussions fail to mention that there is any affiliation with Jesus to include no mention of Him.
Question: How can we claim to be of Christ and yet not talk about Him at every opportunity we get?
For as Christians, it is to be Christ first in everything…in our actions…in our words…in our thoughts. Saying we are Christians is saying we are all in with Jesus…He is who we yearn to be like…He is who we wish to identified with…He is the One we want others to see when they look at us.
Yet, way too often, we turn into Peter and act like we don’t know Jesus, disowning Him in the midst of those He sent us out to help save.
So when it comes to Jesus and your association with others daily, what do you do that consistently reports on Him and what He means to you in your life?
This matter of proclaiming about Jesus is at the heart of today’s passage as we begin to look at the 11th chapter of Matthew. There, Jesus had just finished “instructing his twelve disciples” before heading to “teach and preach in the towns of Galilee”.
Meanwhile, John the Baptist, the one who announced the coming of Jesus…the one who baptized him in the Jordan River…finds himself in prison but does hear about what Jesus was doing. And so he sent his disciples to Jesus to ask Him a single question:
“Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"
Wow! What a question. Didn’t John know already who Jesus was? I mean, as soon as he baptized Jesus scripture tells us that “heaven was opened” and “the Spirit of God” descended “like a dove…lighting on him”. And this was followed by a “voice from heaven” which said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17) There should have been little to no doubt who Jesus was or what He could do. And yet, John seemed like he was unsure. For why would you ask if you truly knew that Jesus Christ was the very Son of God…the long expected Messiah who had come to save mankind?
And so Jesus, faced with the question, gave John’s disciples the following reply to take back:
“Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
It was a shame that Jesus had to tell John’s disciples what to report. John had surely heard about what Jesus had done and so it should have went without saying but Jesus still had to assist.
Question: Would you have to ask Jesus about who He is or who He was associated with?
If you are truly a Christian, I would hope not…but if you were unsure what to say, I’m sure Jesus would give you the words to speak just as He did with John’s disciples.
Friends, Jesus is truly the One who was sent by our Heavenly Father to save us from our sins but not before suffering a criminal’s death on Calvary’s cross. In a few days, we’ll celebrate His awesome power on display yet once again as He rises from the tomb and defeats death…ascending to assume His place on the right hand of His Father until He returns.
This is the loving Savior we are to identify with as Christians. This is to be our report….the good news…the answer we are to give “everyone who asks” for “the reason for the hope that (we) have”.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com
No comments:
Post a Comment