While Jesus is out healing all kinds of sickness, casting out numerous demons, and teaching with authority, John the Baptist is sitting in prison. This is the same man who fulfilled the prophecy that Elijah would return and prepare the way of the Lord. This is the same man who announced to the crowd at the Jordan when Jesus appeared, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” This is the same man who baptized Jesus and witnessed the descending dove and booming heavenly voice. This is the same man, and now he is in a dark place, literally and spiritually. He begins to doubt sends his followers to find out if Jesus really is the One.
Before Jesus answers their question, they have the opportunity to observe firsthand his miraculous power as he heals people with various illnesses, of special note is that they see him give sight to the blind. It is then that Jesus tells them to go and tell John that the blind receive their sight...the poor have good news preached to them.
If you will note carefully, Jesus is again back in Isaiah 61. Remember, this was the text he used when speaking in the synagogue. When he used it then, it almost got him killed. Now, however, he is using this text to comfort John in prison and reaffirm him in the faith. The point being that Jesus directed John to the Word. The Word was so central in Jesus’ life and ministry. He taught from the Scripture, he fought Satan with the Scripture, and he comforted the saints with the Scripture.
The Word of God, Scripture, is where Jesus planted his life. The Word is where John’s doubts would be alleviated. The Word is where we must live as well.
I think that it is interesting that Jesus used the passage from Isaiah 61 to answer John's question. "To preach good tidings to the poor...to heal the brokenhearted...to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound..." (61:1) I wonder what John thought about those last two promises? HE was needing liberty and an opened prison!! I'm afraid my response might have been, "Well, I'm glad for those who have recovered their sight and for the gospel for the poor, but please, won't you go back to Jesus and remind Him that I need His help with the last part??" I bet John had a better response! He probably understood that his BETTER release, true liberty, from prison (this life) was soon coming!!
ReplyDelete(Was the quote about sight for the blind part of another chapter in Isaiah? Seems like I remember that. I've got to haul out the concordance!!)
Second thought (and again, I doubt that I've found something terribly significant, but it IS curious), here's something I started jotting down:
"Doubles" in the gospels:
-Jesus calms the Sea of Galilee--
Mk. 4:35-41 and Mark 6:51
--Jesus feeds a crowd--
Mk. 6:40-43 and Mk. 8:1-10
--Jesus cleanses the temple--
Jn. 2:13-17 and Mk. 11:15-18
--Jesus causes a miraculous catch of fish--
Lk. 5:3-9 and Jn. 21:4-11
--Jesus defends a woman who worships with perfume--Lk. 7:36-50 and Jn. 12:1-8
--Jesus heals long distance for a Gentile with great faith--Lk. 7:1-10 and Matt. 15:21-28
Are there more??
My brothers and sisters who are also reading through the Word this year: KEEP ON!! I'm praying for you! And DON'T get behind in Luke! These LONG chapters make it tough to catch up!!