This doesn’t seem like a great plan.
The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 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?” 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?’” In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 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. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” Luke 7:18-23
John had done so well. He had fought the good fight and served so faithfully.
In the words of the angel who appeared to his father, he had done on before the Lord “in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:16-17).
Yet there he was, rotting in prison, while his cousin, Jesus, travelled the land. Jesus was teaching, healing, and drawing adulation at scale after raising people from the dead.
There was absolutely nothing the young rabbi couldn’t do. So why wasn’t he rescuing John from a Roman prison?
You could understand John’s logic, of course. What good could it possibly be doing for him to sit on the sidelines? Wouldn’t the kingdom benefit from having this all-star prophet in the action and at the side of Jesus?
The verses that come immediately before the passage about John are telling.
Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” And this report about [Jesus] spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.” Luke 7:16-17
A great prophet has arisen among us. Ouch.
Not so long ago, that was the word about John. But he was no longer the headline.
I’m not suggesting John was jealous of the attention Jesus was getting. But John’s question – “Are you the one, or should we look for another?” came from a place of disillusionment.
I believe John was crystal clear on the identity of the Messiah.
He had announced his coming. He had baptized Jesus himself. He had seen the Spirit descend. He had heard the voice from heaven.
And now, Jesus was offering all the confirming signs. John knew Jesus was the One.
So why did he send his disciples to Jesus? It wasn’t to find out if Jesus was the Messiah. No, it was to remind Jesus of where he was, and to challenge him.
Do something to help me.
John was suffering. In prison. Wrongfully committed. Gone from the wilderness and taken out of the game.
This wasn’t the plan, as far as he was concerned. Why was Jesus ignoring him? Why was he letting him waste away and be forgotten?
The response from Jesus was patient and gracious. “Tell John that 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.”
In short, Jesus says, I am out here fulfilling every bit of my mission. His prophetic scripture reading in the synagogue (see Luke 4) was playing out in front of everyone.
And then, his last recorded words to John: “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” Luke 7:18-23
What’s the takeaway for the modern believer?
There are probably many applications to be made here, but one that jumps out to me is this: God’s plan is often not my plan.
Stuff will happen. Disease will strike. Misfortune will come. Rejections will be received. Opportunities will be missed.
These life developments can be hard to understand and contextualize. What is happening, God?
Moments come our way when it will feel like God is getting sloppy. Like his plan is going off the rails. Like our spiritual destiny isn’t being realized, and he’s forgetting about us.
Picture the love and care in the face of Jesus as he answered the messengers and considered his cousin. John was hurting – he had to know that.
Yet in so many words, Jesus was saying don’t worry, John. I’ve got this.
It wasn’t immediately apparent why, but John was where he needed to be. And some day soon, he would meet his Lord in eternity.
Perhaps you feel like John, sitting on the sidelines and subjected to some form of Roman prison. This cannot be the plan is the resounding thought.
Jesus knows, my friend. He sees you. He understands. And he’s got good news: his plan is marching forward, and it’s unstoppable.
Remain faithful while you sit in that cold, dark cell. You may get out soon, or you may not.
Either way, you’re going to spend eternity with the King of kings, so keep your eyes fixed on him.
Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.
The Cascadian Christian 