11th.: Are You the One?
God sent John the Baptist into the world for a very specific purpose.
He was, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” (Mark 1:3, Isaiah 40:3).
John had to point out the Messiah to the Israelites.
In fact, John the Baptist recognized Jesus, even when both of them were in their respective mother’s wombs (see Luke 1:26-44, especially v41).
Years later, when Jesus began his public ministry, he went to John. John introduced Jesus to the people (see John 1:29-37).
Shortly after baptizing Jesus, John ended up in jail for reproving the government leader, Herod, about an adulterous affair.
After languishing in jail, doubts about Jesus entered into John’s mind.
John therefore sent two messengers to Jesus with this question,
“Art thou he that should come? Or look we for another?” (Luke 7:19b).
Jesus did not rebuke John. Jesus simply reminded John of the Scriptures,
by telling the messengers to tell John what they had just seen Jesus doing,
“how that the blind see, the lame walk …, the deaf hear, to the poor, the gospel is preached” (see Luke 7:20-22).
When God does not live up to our standards, we can ask Him why. But His answer may already be found in the Bible.