Luke 7: 19-23
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?
20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
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.
23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
John the Baptist has been imprisoned for speaking the truth about how the people should prepare themselves to be fit for the coming of the Kingdom. It may seem strange that he now sends to Jesus to ask him if he is indeed the one to come, the Messiah. Does John now doubt that Jesus is the Son of God?
Luke’s account of the baptism of Jesus by John differs from the other Gospels’. In John’s Gospel, John the Baptist sees Jesus approaching and immediately says: ‘Behold, the lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.’ In Mark and Matthew it is immediately on Jesus coming out of the water that the Spirit descends and a voice from heaven proclaims: ‘Thou are my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.’ And in Matthew, John is initially reluctant to baptize Jesus, saying that it is he who should be baptized by Jesus instead.
In Luke’s Gospel, the account of John’s arrest is placed first in the narrative, and so not following the chronological order of events. Luke then notes the baptism of all the people and Jesus also, ‘Jesus being baptised’, and then we are told, with a change in verb tense, that there is an unspecified period of time spent by Jesus in prayer before the heaven opens, while he is praying, the Spirit descends as a dove, and the voice from heaven proclaims Jesus as the Son of God. (The New Jerusalem Bible translates the verse as follows: ‘Now it happened that when all the people had been baptised and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened…’) We may recall that Christ’s praying is generally time spent alone with his father. There is no reason in Luke’s narrative to think that John must be present to witness this, or that Luke assumes he is.
It may then be that we be not entirely sure as to John the Baptist’s thoughts and intentions in sending to Jesus to ask him if he is the one to come. Is it that the understandings of the different evangelists are different? Is John the Baptist genuinely mystified by what is happening, or rather not happening, and so sends to Jesus to ask who he is, trusting Jesus to answer honestly? After all, while John has heralded the dawn of a new, Messianic age, even he may not have understood the full implications of his own teaching.
It is no doubt significant, in relation to these questions, that John’s sending messengers to Jesus is also related in Matthew’s Gospel (11: 2-6). We seem, then, to have through this a situation in which John has known of Christ’s divinity, he has hailed him as the Son of God, and now he seeks to know about the future. What is going to happen to Israel, to the Jewish people? Is the long time of waiting about to be fulfilled, in accordance with the teachings of the Prophets? Is Jesus going to restore the Jewish nation?
By way of response, Jesus in that very hour heals many people. What he says to John’s disciples next recalls verses from the prophet Isaiah which John would understand as an account of the signs of the coming of the Kingdom:
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing…
THE Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn. (Isaiah 35: 5-6, 61: 1-2)
To the poor the Gospel is preached – to those who lack material goods or social status, and to those who have found a certain spiritual poverty, coming to God humbly, knowing their own merits can not bring them to heaven, that it is only the gift of grace that may fulfil their lives. John’s questions are answered. The Kingdom of God is here.
‘Man does not see God by his own powers; but God of his own will appears to men, to whom he wills, and when he wills, and as he wills. For God can do all things: he was seen in former times prophetically through the Spirit, he is seen in the Son by adoption, and he will be seen in the kingdom of heaven as Father. The Spirit prepares man for the Son of God, the Son brings him to the Father, and the Father bestows on him incorruptibility for eternal life, which comes to everyone from his beholding God.’ St Irenaeus
Psalm 147 begins with an instruction: ‘Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.’ This command introduces a composition that details God’s interactions with the world and His people, grounding the act of praise in observable actions and attributes of God [ … ]
In Christian tradition, the Millennium refers to a thousand-year period of peace and prosperity that is believed to follow the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This belief is based on a passage from the book of Revelation in the New Testament: ‘And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years’ (Revelation 20:4) [ … ]
Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:28-30 ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ In this passage, Jesus extends an invitation to all who are weary and burdened. Jesus promises rest and relief, urging us to take his yoke and learn from him. Jesus’ gentle and humble heart offers rest for our souls, emphasizing that his yoke is easy and his burden light. This passage is a reminder of the hope we have in Christ, who offers us rest and peace amid our struggles. Prayer Dear Jesus, In times of uncertainty and despair, I turn to you, the source of all hope. Fill my heart with your hope that transcends understanding. Help me to trust in your promises and to find joy and peace in your presence. May your hope renew my spirit and give me the strength to face each day with confidence and faith. Let your hope shine through me, bringing light to others who are in need. Amen. Personal Reflection What are the situations in your life that seem hopeless? How can you invite Jesus’ hope into these areas? Reflect on a time when you experienced renewed hope through your faith in Christ. Meditation On The Prayer And Gospel Matthew 11:28-30 is a passage that speaks directly to our need for hope and rest. Jesus’ invitation to come to him is extended to all who are weary and burdened, offering a refuge from the struggles of life. This invitation is not just a call to physical rest but a deeper spiritual rest that brings peace to our souls. Jesus understands the burdens we carry and offers a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light. The imagery of a yoke suggests partnership and guidance; by taking on his yoke, we align ourselves with him, allowing him to share our burdens and guide our steps. This partnership is marked by learning from Jesus, whose gentle and humble heart sets an example for us. The promise of rest for our souls is comforting. In a world where we often feel overwhelmed and stressed, Jesus assures us that he is our source of true rest and peace. His rest is not temporary or superficial but a peace that sustains us through life’s challenges. This promise gives us hope, knowing that no matter what we face, we can find solace in Jesus. Reflecting on this passage, we are reminded of the importance of surrendering our burdens to Jesus. It requires trust and faith to let go of our anxieties and allow him to take control. This surrender is an act of faith, acknowledging that Jesus is capable and willing to carry our burdens. As we learn to trust him more, we experience the peace and rest he promises. The hope we find in Jesus is transformative. It renews our spirits and gives us the strength to persevere. This hope is not dependent on our circumstances but on the nature of Jesus and his promises. It is a hope that empowers us to face each day with confidence, knowing that we are not alone. As we embrace this hope, we are called to share it with others. The hope we receive from Jesus is not meant to be kept to ourselves but to be a light for others who are struggling. Through words of encouragement, acts of kindness, and simply being present, we can extend Jesus’ invitation of hope and rest to those around us. By living out this hope, we reflect Christ’s love and bring his light into the world. In practical terms, fostering hope involves daily practices that keep us connected to Jesus. Spending time in prayer, reading Scripture, and being part of a faith community help us to stay grounded in our faith and renew our hope. These practices remind us of Jesus’ promises and keep our focus on him rather than on our circumstances. Prayer Lord Jesus, You are the anchor of my hope. In moments of doubt and despair, remind me of your promises. Fill my heart with your joy and peace, and let your hope overflow in my life. Help me to trust in your plans and to find strength in your presence. May your hope shine in me, guiding me through every trial and illuminating the path ahead. Use me as a beacon of your hope, bringing comfort and encouragement to those in need. Thank you for the gift of your eternal hope. Amen. Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.’ Blessing May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him. May you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, and may His hope guide and sustain you in all things. Amen.
