A Puzzle, A Mystery, and a Paradox
.
Luke 7:18-23
18. The disciples of John told him of all these things. 19. And John, calling to him two of his disciples, sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?" 20. And when the men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, `Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?'" 21. In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many that were blind he bestowed sight. 22. And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me."
What John really wanted to know from his cousin was when he was going to start overthrowing the current government and reclaiming political power for “their people.” Remember that even in his mother’s womb he leapt at the sound of Mary’s voice -- he had anticipated his mission and that of the Messiah’s coming since before he was born! And he was tired. And perhaps discouraged. He was in his 30’s (middle-aged by contemporary times). He had done everything he felt God was leading him to do. Said what he believed he was to say. And at each baptism in the river, he must have looked just beyond the horizon looking for Jesus. Or waiting to hear word of political unrest and great armies forming.
Jesus wanted John’s disciples to see the miracles he performed. Notice Jesus didn’t give them (or John) a simple, “Yes.” He didn’t launch into one of his parables. He went into action. Surely he recognized that John was getting impatient; maybe even discouraged. From the questions of John’s disciples, he realized that John had formed his own idea of who and what the Messiah would be. John had spent his entire life strictly adhering to “the law” and declaring the good news that a savior would appear on the scene. And his cousin, well, he wasn’t doing what he needed to do to fulfill the prophecies!
Don’t we get confused sometimes about “what God is supposed to do?” Haven’t we constructed a model for him to follow, a plan for him to use as his guide for our lives. Like, John, don’t we get discouraged, and anxious about when God is going to answer our prayers? John wanted a warrior king! Jesus sent back word that his war was in the spiritual realm, and not on earth. Jesus informed John, and the entire world that the rules had changed! He turned the world upside down--he broke all the rules! Because this world cannot contain or limit the power of God.
It’s pretty scary to turn our lives over to God, to his wisdom, to his plan. This world is a perilous place -- physically and spiritually! And sometimes we feel as if we need a conquering king to clear the way for us. But Jesus came into the world to overthrow kings and authorities and to offer us hope and healing. He told John, “You’re the best, cousin! You’ve been obedient and faithful, and a role model.” But his obedience and faith and life were models for the “Old Covenant”--of the Old Testament. Jesus announced that to participate in the “New Covenant” one must change the way we viewed everything in the past!
Jesus was a puzzle and a mystery and a paradox. But he was “the people’s savior.” He touched the untouchable, and sat at table with the outcasts. He healed and offered hope to a broken, hurting world. And he made it clear that he came to save us. You. Me. Each of us. All of us. And he promised us that if we look to him and how he lived, God will reward us in ways we cannot even imagine! Heaven awaits. But don’t think you’ll get there through the world. Only through the cross. That would be a hard sell on Wall Street! But it’s an “easy burden and light yoke” when we fully understand that God is the source of all good in the world, this universe, this galaxy -- in all of creation. And nothing is stronger, bigger, or more powerful than he. Turn to him and you find the answers to every question you can think of to ask. And let him have charge of your life.
My prayer today is that you will allow God to act beyond the limitations you have placed on him. And that your life will be full to overflowing with the goodness, peace and grace given to us by His Son.
Mary
