Daily devotion – Wednesday 11th August 2021
Luke 7:19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
One person I am truly looking forward to meeting in heaven is John the Baptist. Such a powerful figure in the Bible yet one whose humility was truly amazing. Jesus called John the greatest of all the prophets.
But there was a time in John’s life that his mind was overcast, his faith lost its foothold, and he was in the depths of despair. He was locked in prison at this time by Herod and John sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Art Thou He that should come?”
John was used to living in the freedom of the desert wilderness but now he is confined to a dark cell and his spirit sank. When Jesus heard John’s concern, his question from his cell, Jesus did not rebuke John for doubting but instead sent a message back of tender encouragement and instruction.
Was John disappointed perhaps, had he been expecting Jesus to come deliver him from his imprisonment? Jesus had preached that He had come to open prison doors! But for John, weeks of captivity grew into months and still no help came. Thoughts came, had he been mistaken about Jesus? Often in our lives we have looked for God to come rescue us and we have questioned whether God was concerned for us.
But John’s disciples returned back with the words Jesus told them to share with John – Luke 7:22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
But with all the power that Jesus had done why had He not come and delivered John? John would live just another 3 months.
Jesus drew John’s attention to words he seemed in danger of forgetting – “Strengthen you the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not! Behold your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened; and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped; then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.”
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord hats anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He has sent Me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.”
It was as though Jesus said, “Go to John, and tell him to take again the ancient prophecy and study it.”
You and I are at times like John today, we have not yet seen the end of the Lord: we have not all the evidence. But our Saviour is offering us everyday evidence of His divine and loving power.
Miracles are occurring all around us which many times we are completely oblivious to as if we were locked in a dark cell.
God is working wondrously – God has not forgotten us!
Let us this week, quiet our souls, light will break on us from the eternal morning; the peace of God will keep our hearts and minds, and we shall enter on the blessedness which our Lord unfolded before the gaze of His faithful Forerunner.