Today’s scripture: Luke 7:18-35 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Robert Ferguson):
I have read this story many times throughout my life and I have always wondered why John the Baptist, of all people, would question whether or not Jesus was the actual Christ prophesied about in the Old Testament. After all, it was John who baptized Jesus and witnessed the Holy Spirit falling on him! And John the Baptist is the very first person to identify Jesus as the promised Messiah. In John: 1:29 it says “The next day he [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
So why this doubt about whether or not Jesus was the one? I believe in my heart of hearts that John was sending a message to his disciples. John new that Jesus was the Messiah, but he also knew that just saying this to his devoted followers would not have been sufficient evidence to make them change their loyalties. I imagine that John being locked up must have made him a hero of sorts; a martyr for the cause. So I believe that in order for John to convince his followers to follow Jesus, they needed to witness and see for themselves!
As I was reading this passage I had to ask myself, “Is it enough that I say I am a Christian?” I am sure lots of people know that I go to church and I am not above posting the random scripture in my cubicle at work. And certainly if I were asked by a pollster on the street I would say “Yes, yes I am a Christian.” But today I feel led to ask myself, do my actions reflect what I believe or who I believe in?
When John’s disciples approached Jesus and asked if he was indeed the Messiah, Jesus did not answer directly. Instead, he cured many, gave sight to the blind, and comforted others. “Now,” he said, “Go tell John what you have seen and heard.”
I wonder sometimes, if my friends, family, and co-workers had to go and tell someone what they had seen and heard of me. . . what would they say? Did you see me help someone? Did you see me show grace and mercy when others around me were merciless? When you looked at me, did you see the light of Christ?
After Jesus performs many miracles to show that he was in fact the Messiah, he goes on to tell the crowd what a great man John was. In order to make his point he reminds them of what they all witnessed about John. John was a man not swayed by trendy changes in popular thinking. He did not follow the crowd. John was not obsessed with material comforts. John was a prophet who pointed people to God. John was a man of truth even when that truth was not popular. And his beliefs were evidenced by his actions!
I want to be the type of person who can demonstrate who I am and what I believe by the kindness I show to others and the things that are important to me. The final nugget that Jesus leaves us with today is this, “But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” Just as fruit tells you a lot about the tree, so do our actions tell a lot about who we are.
Thought for the day: True wisdom shows itself by its works.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.