“So he replied to the messengers, ‘Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: 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.’” (Luke 7:22, NIV84)
We can all understand John’s (the Baptist) question and why he was asking it. He was jailed shortly after Jesus’ baptism and could die at any time. Being in jail, he was not able to follow Jesus. He had been hearing things but now sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus directly whether He was the One. Note Jesus’ answer in the verse we are looking at today. “Report to John what you have seen and heard.” Jesus didn’t just tell them. He showed them. What John was unable to see, Jesus made sure his disciples would see so they could report back facts, not hearsay. What did they see and hear?
They saw that the world’s problems are solved in Jesus Christ. At first you might think I am overstating things, but look closely. The sick were healed. The dead were raised. The blind could see. The deaf could hear. The Good News was preached to the lowly and the poor. Jesus sent John’s disciples back with the proof that John was looking for. John could be assured that Jesus was the promised Messiah that John faithfully prepared the way for.
And as for you and me, we have the full Gospel message to assure us. We know that Jesus died on a cross and bore all humanity’s sins. We know that Jesus rose victoriously from the dead to prove that He was the lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. We know that Jesus ascended into heaven and promised His disciples that He would return at the appropriate time. We know that the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples in the upper room and 3,000 people came to faith on the Day of Pentecost. We have seen the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread during the last 2,000 years throughout the globe. The amazing thing about the Gospel is that its power was not confined to the ministry of Jesus. It has continued to powerfully heal, save, and redeem through the faithful workings of the Body of Christ.
May we be encouraged by what we have seen and heard.
Peace!
Pastor Tom
www.firmlyrooted.church