After
John the Baptist was thrown in prison, he began to wonder if Jesus really was
the Messiah. So John sent a message to Jesus asking, “Are You the Expected One
or shall we look for someone else?”(Matt. 11:3)
Dear Jesus,
I am writing to inform you that I have been
thrown into prison by Herod. I’ve been thinking about all of those things that
I had preached about you, even before you began your ministry.
Remember how
I told everyone that your winnowing fork was in your hand, and you would
thoroughly clean your threshing floor? And remember how I said you would burn
up the chaff with unquenchable fire? To me that meant that you would put an end
to all injustice. I was counting on you to correct all wrongs.
To be honest,
Jesus, I never thought I’d have to write this letter. I was sure you would have
straightened things up around here by now. Rumors have it that Herodias wants
my head. If you are wondering when to get out your winnowing fork to start
cleaning up, now would be a good time. That is, if you are the one we are
expecting.
Respectfully yours,
John the Baptist
P.S. If we are to look for someone else,
please let us know.
A few days later, the mailman delivered a
letter to John’s jail cell. He anxiously opened it, hoping to receive news that
Jesus was arranging for his quick release. Instead, John read:
Dear John the Baptist,
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the
lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the
gospel preached to them.
Agape,
Jesus
P.S. Blessed is he who keeps from stumbling
over Me.
Jesus
wanted him to recall the facts he knew to be true. “John, you know I’ve opened blind eyes. That’s a
miracle no one else has ever done. The prophet Isaiah predicted the Messiah
would do this (Isa. 29:18, 35:5, 42:7). You know I’ve healed paralyzed people and cleansed
lepers. I’ve made the deaf to hear
and even raised the dead. Who else
can do these things except the Messiah? If you will concentrate on these
things you know to be true, your doubts will disappear.” (Slaying Your Giants p.38)
Focus your faith on what you know to be true.
Not on what you don’t know. That's how you make doubts disappear. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net
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BIBLE STUDY: Resolving
Conflicts
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