Expectations (Luke 7:18-23) 1 of 5 The Baptist

Luke 7:18-23   18 John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them,  19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"  20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'"  21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.  22 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.  23 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." 


John the Baptist, the one who watched the Spirit descend upon Jesus - the one sent to go before Jesus to prepare the way for Jesus, is having a crisis of faith.  John is in prison  - unable to watch the miracles that Jesus is doing - unable to talk with Jesus face to face.  And if I had to guess, I would say he is experiencing depression and doubt. Because of his bold declaration of the gospel, John is being persecuted and has been imprisoned   It feels like he has been taken out of the game to sit on the sidelines.  And it feels as if Jesus is going on without him.  How can this be?

Jesus' answer is an affirmative.  He is the Messiah.  However, he challenges John to examine his presuppositions about who the Messiah should be and what he should do.  And not to fall away because his personal expectations aren't being met.  The Jews expected the Messiah to save them from Roman occupation.  John may have expected Jesus to free him from prison.  Whatever it was, we know from Jesus' answer that he had wrong expectations of Jesus.  

What expectations of the Messiah hold us back from faith?

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The other gospels weigh in ....

Matthew 11:2-6   2 When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples  3 to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"  4 Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see:  5 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.  6 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."