Sunday 11 December 2022
- Bible Book:
- Matthew
'The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.' (v. 5)
Background
In verses 2-6 John the Baptist, who is in prison, wants to know if Jesus is ‘the coming one’ (meaning the Messiah, fulfilling the role of the long-promised prophet like Moses, in Deuteronomy 18:15-19).Why was John uncertain? John had predicted that the coming one would baptise with Holy Spirit and fire, exercising God’s judgement. But was that happening? John insisted on fasting; Jesus did not.
In response, Jesus declines to give a straight answer. He points instead to the evidence of his ministry. His actions will speak for themselves. Jesus has been transforming the lives of the needy, the excluded and the poor. (This echoes themes for example in the Book of Isaiah, eg 35:5-6, 61:1). Jesus then adds: ‘And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.” (v. 6)
In verses 7-11 Jesus quizzes the crowd around him, who had earlier listened to John. What attracted them to him? Surely not a crowd-pleaser, peddling thoughts his listeners wanted to hear? Surely not someone with political and social authority? Was it to see a prophet? "Yes, indeed", says Jesus, ‘and more. John fulfilled the prophecy of Malachi 3:1: he was God’s herald sent ahead of the Messiah. Jesus says there has been no greater person than John in all preceding history. (An extraordinary accolade!) But now something much more wonderful has begun! (The reader must here make a link back to the catalogue of actions Jesus presented to John’s disciples in v. 5.) The kingdom of heaven has been inaugurated, which radically transcends every prior revelation of God’s purpose and ways. All human valuations are now being turned upside down. God exalts the sick and the poor whose lives have been transformed by Jesus to a higher place than John will ever be granted (though John will assuredly be part of the kingdom of heaven).
To Ponder:
- How do you help the poor and vulnerable in your community? What actions or organisations to help needy people does your church support or host? Are there things going on in your church that soak up time and energy which could be given in community service? How can a different balance be struck?
- Jesus deflected attention from himself to focus on the life of the kingdom bursting out through him. How tempting is it to have the local media focus on your church rather than on lives being changed. What is the cost of resisting such a temptation, if you believe this to be a legitimate concern?