Foundations for Christian Mission, Student Workbook, SW04

1 7 8 /

F O U N D A T I O N S F O R C H R I S T I A N M I S S I O N

the Lord in the OT demanded that the covenant community give the poor resources, so the Church is to “live the true prosperity Gospel,” by seeking justice and equity on behalf of the poor in all dealings and issues.

Tell Me, Are You the One?

Devotion

Luke 7.18-23 - The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, [19] calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one 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 the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ ” [21] In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who 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 the one who is not offended by me.” The ministry of Jesus as Messiah came on the scene in Judea with much excitement and anticipation, but it was not immediately obvious to all that he was the Messiah, and this is true even of John the Baptist. The remarkable nature of the miracles and mighty works of Jesus steadily gained audience in the latter days of John the Baptist. As the ministry of John decreased, so Jesus increased in both scope and influence (cf. John 3.30). John baptized the nation for repentance in anticipation of the unveiling of Jesus’ declaration of the Kingdom of God, and Jesus demonstrated its power in his miracles, his sermons, and the nature of his own character and life. Every part of who Jesus was and what he did communicated to the validity of his claims: Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah of God, proclaiming the Kingdom present in his incarnation in the world. As the report went all throughout Judea and the surrounding region of Jesus’ mighty works, the disciples of John heard of his works, and went and reported them to John. John sent two of his disciples to Jesus with the very straightforward question: “Are You the Coming one, or do we look for another?” There was enough evidence in Jesus’ works and standing to reveal, at the very least, a prophetic calling upon the life of the Nazarene. John’s question need not be interpreted as evidence of his own doubt or misunderstanding: his question reveals John’s desire for truth and plainness, especially in the sense of Jesus’ own testimony of his identity. Luke tells us that in the very hour that Jesus heard the question from John’s disciples, he began to cure people of their many infirmities and afflictions, and cast

4