32 lines
1.6 KiB
Markdown
32 lines
1.6 KiB
Markdown
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title = "Luke 7:18–23"
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date = "2022-11-17"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk7.18-23)
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John the Baptist (who has been imprisoned by Herod, remember) hears the reports
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of the miracles Jesus has been performing. And then he does something strange,
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because he seemed to know exactly who Jesus was when he baptized Him. He sends
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his disciples to ask Jesus if He really is the promised Messiah.
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Some historical context is helpful here. At that time, most of the Jews thought
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the Messiah was going to raise an army to expel the Roman invaders, restore the
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kingdom of Israel, and sit on the throne of his father David to rule like he
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did. Except for defeating the Romans, Jesus is going to rule over the nations
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like that…eventually. This may not have been John's view, though,
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because he had been preaching to encourage the people to repent because
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judgement was coming. Perhaps he thought Jesus had come to bring about the
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judgement of God upon sinful humanity and was wondering when He'd get on with
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it. And Jesus is going to do that…eventually.
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Verse 21 tells us that in the same hour that John's disciples asked Jesus their
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question, Jesus healed many people of various afflictions. Jesus says to them
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to tell John what they have seen and heard, because they were certainly witness
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to these things. The words He uses are allusions to passages in Isaiah that
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talk of the restoration of Israel. So Jesus is saying to them "I am the One you
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are waiting for; see the deeds I am here to do."
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* * *
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We look forward to Your return, King Jesus. Make us ready to receive You.
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